New electricity tariff: NERC orders DisCos to refund wrongly billed customers

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has directed all Electricity Distribution Companies to make refunds to all customers wrongly billed at the new rate no later than Thursday, April 11, 2024.

The DisCos are equally requested to file evidence of the refund compliance made through energy tokens with NERC by April 12, 2024.

The Commission charged DisCos to implement the new multi-year tariff order in accordance with the agreed terms of operation.

NERC’s DGM Market Competition and Rules, Abba Tarab, in a statement on Saturday asked DisCos to provide customers affected by the tariff hike clarity.

NERC listed five conditions for the DisCos to adopt in the implementation of the programme as follows:
“All DisCos shall ensure that ONLY the newly approved Band A feeders listed in their April 2024 supplementary orders are maintained as Band A for the purpose of vending to prepaid customers and billing for postpaid customers on their networks.

“All DisCos are required to immediately post on their websites the schedule of approved Band A feeders that have been affected by the rate review.

“All DisCos shall set up a portal by 10th April 2024 on their website that allows all customers to check their current Bands by entering their meter or account numbers.

“All customers wrongly billed at the new rate should be refunded through energy tokens no later than Thursday 11th April 2024, and file evidence of compliance with the Commission by 12th April 2024.

“The Commission shall monitor compliance with the requirements listed above and shall continue to provide support to all stakeholders as required.”