The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has expressed its intention to commence enforcement action against 7 electricity distribution companies (DisCos) over their failure to comply with the orders to cap estimated bills to customers.
This was disclosed by NERC in a tweet post on their official twitter handle on Tuesday, June 9, 2020.
The power sector regulatory agency in its statement said, “The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued notices of intention to commence enforcement action against seven electricity distribution companies over their failure to comply with the order 197/2020 on capping of unmetered R2 and C1 electricity customers’’.
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NERC’s order 197/2020 places limits on estimated bills that the DisCos can charge the unmetered consumers of residential (R2) and commercial (C1)
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission listed the electricity distribution companies involved to include those in Enugu, Eko, Benin, Ikeja, Kano, Kaduna, and Port Harcourt.
READ MORE: Power: NERC applies “brakes” on hike in tariffs
These distribution companies were given a timeframe of 14 days with effect from June 4, 2020, to explain why the regulatory commission should not sanction them over their alleged failure to comply with the order.
The NERC had in February issued order No/NERC/197/2020 on capping of estimated billings in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, thereby placing a cap on estimated bills to unmetered customers.
This was to protect unmetered R2 (Residential single and 3 phase meters, who consume more than 50kwh per month) and C1 (Commercial single and 3 phase meters, small businesses) customers from estimated and arbitrary billing and hopefully hasten the process of metering.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued notices of intention to commence enforcement action against Seven electricity distribution companies over their failure to comply with the Order 197/2020 on capping of unmetered R2 and C1 electricity customers.
— NERC Nigeria (@NERCNG) June 9, 2020
The Discos are Benin, Enugu, Eko, Ikeja,Kano, Kaduna and Port Harcourt. @NERCNG @nannews_ng @NTANewsNow @AIT_Online @THISDAYLIVE @TheSun @LeadershipNGA @GuardianNigeria
— NERC Nigeria (@NERCNG) June 9, 2020
The Discos have 14 days beginning from June 4, 2020, to explain why the Commission should not sanction them over their alleged non-compliance. @channelstvbiz @AIT_Online @THISDAYLIVE @MobilePunch @DT_YouthVille @kapitalfm929 @TheSun @LeadershipNGA @NTANewsNow @GuardianNigeria
— NERC Nigeria (@NERCNG) June 9, 2020
This story would have been stronger if we knew the cap and the extent to which the Discos violated the order. Was there a N5,000 cap per month and did the Discos Charge higher than that?
ikeja electric is still giving us gracy estimated billing my house just a room ,sit room kitchen and toilet i ask to pay 24,133,97 that my house consumption is 1,054,00 for the month of may 2020 please help me, since this is how they bill us in iju, my house is 20B idowu akinsanya street ishaga in lonlo bus stop
jan they said my energy consumption is 600 and asked me to pay 13,419.00 naira
feb they said my energy consumption is 360 and they asked me to pay 8,243.10 naira
march they said my energy consumption is 670.00 and they asked me to pay 15,341.33 naira
april they said my energy consumption is 880.00 and asked me to pay 20,149.80 naira
and may my energy consumption is 1,054.00 and asked me to pay 24,133,97 naira
i am yet to pay for my pre paid meter , and NERC TO the dicos that from February 2020 we without prepaid meter they should not charge us above 1,872.00 naira [NERC ISSUED ORDER NO/197/2020 ON CAPPING OF ESTIMATED BILLINGS IN NIGERIA ELECTRICITY SUPPLY INDUSTRY]
I AM ON R2 WHY SHOULD I BE ASK TO PAY ALL THESE THAT I DID NOT CONSUMED?, I DONT HAVE FACTORY IN MY HOUSE NOTHING ELSE