The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) issued a statement on Friday revealing their decision to instruct the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to rectify billing discrepancies following a comprehensive review and customer feedback.
The review uncovered that AEDC had implemented the new tariff across all customer bands, contrary to the Order designed to ensure fair billing practices. As a result, NERC directed AEDC to reimburse customers in Bands B, C, D, and E who were billed above the allowed tariff bands outlined in the Order.
Furthermore, NERC mandated the reimbursement to be provided through the issuance of balance customer tokens to affected customers at applicable rates, with all reimbursements to be completed by April 11, 2024. AEDC was also instructed to submit evidence of compliance with the directives to NERC by April 12, 2024.
NERC emphasized that their action demonstrates their commitment to safeguarding consumer rights and promoting fairness within Nigeria’s electricity sector. This decision comes after NERC’s announcement earlier in the week of a 300% tariff increase for electricity customers classified under A and B categories.