Electricity tariff: NERC rejects AEDC apology, slams N200m fine

Electricity tariff: NERC rejects AEDC apology, slams N200m fine

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has slammed a fine of N200 million on Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc for tariff violations through overcharging customers.

NERC announced the fine on Friday and asked the AEDC to reimburse affected customers by April 11.

The AEDC, in a statement on Thursday, said a system glitch led the company to overcharge some Band A customers already downgraded to Band B. It sent out an apology for the action

The customers were overcharged while trying to recharge their meters following the new tariff regime.

NERC, on April 3, approved the increase in electricity tariff for Band A customers.

The commission said customers receiving 20 hours of electricity supply daily would pay N225 per kilowatt (kW), starting from April 3 — up from N66.

NERC said the decision to fine AEDC followed customer feedback.

It said AEDC was mandated to reimburse “all customers in Bands B, C, D and E respectively that were billed above the allowed customer categories/tariff bands provided in the Order”.

“Pay the sum of ₦200,000,000.00 (Two Hundred Million Naira) as a fine for the flagrant breach of the Commission’s Order,” it stated.