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Estimated Bills: NERC Fines BEDC, Others, Deducts N10.5bn From Discos Revenue
Published
1 year agoon
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Editor
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, on Friday, declared that it would deduct N10,505,286,072 from the annual allowed revenues of the 11 power distribution companies during the next tariff review as part of sanctions over their non-compliance with the capping of estimated bills for unmetered customers.
NERC disclosed this in a notice obtained in Abuja, stressing that the billing of unmetered customers in their various franchise areas for 2023 revealed non-compliance with the monthly energy caps issued by the commission.
It said, “The public may recall that in 2020, the commission issued the order on Capping of Estimated Bills (Order No: NERC/197/2020) and subsequently issued monthly energy caps which aimed to align the estimated bills for unmetered customers with the measured consumption of metered customers on the same supply feeder.
“A review of the electricity distribution companies’ billing of unmetered customers for 2023 has revealed non-compliance with the monthly energy caps issued by the commission.”
In response to this and in a bid to safeguard unmetered customers from arbitrary billing by Discos, the commission stated that pursuant to Section 34(1)(d) of the Electricity Act 2023, it had issued the order on Non-Compliance with Capping of Estimated Bills (Order No: NERC/2024/004-01 4).
READ ALSO: CHEATERS: How DisCos Over-bill Customers By N105bn In 9 Months
It said the order stipulates the following: “Credit adjustment to customers: Discos are to issue credit adjustments to all over-billed unmetered customers for the period January to September 2023 by the March 2024 billing cycle.
“Public notice: Discos have been directed to publish the list of credit adjustment beneficiaries in two national dailies and on their website not later than March 31, 2024.
“Regulatory sanctions: The commission shall deduct a sum of N10,505,286,072 from the annual allowed revenues of the 11 Discos during the next tariff review, to deter future non-compliance with the energy caps approved by the commission.”
Electricity consumers nationwide have continued to lodge complaints against excessive estimated bills by power distribution companies in Nigeria.
For instance, it was reported on December 31, 2023, that power consumers lodged a total of 333,947 complaints bordering on metering, billing, and service interruption to their various distribution companies within three months.
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According to the report, this was disclosed in the 2023 third-quarter report of NERC, stating that the complaints were lodged in July, August, and September 2023.
The report stated that the customer complaints in the third quarter were higher than what was recorded in the preceding quarter by 8,049 cases.
It quoted the NERC report as saying that “the total number of complaints received across all Discos (distribution companies) in 2023/Q3 was 333,947; Ibadan Disco received the highest number of complaints (59,901), representing 17.93 per cent of the total complaints received. Abuja Disco received the least number of complaints (1,919), representing 0.57 per cent of the total complaints received”
Meanwhile, the commission, on Friday, reaffirmed its commitment to regulatory compliance and consumer protection within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
The power sector regulator can impose various sanctions on power distribution companies for violating regulations or failing to meet performance standards.
These sanctions aim to deter non-compliance and improve service delivery and there are various types of sanctions imposed on defaulting power firms in Nigeria.
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The regulator imposes financial penalties on power firms as fines varying in amount based on the severity of the offence. Abuja Disco, for instance, was recently ordered to refund overbilled customers and fined for violating billing regulations.
Benin and Port Harcourt Discos were also fined by the regulator for failing to comply with customer complaint rulings.
On Performance Improvement Plans, the commission undertakes some measures to address specific issues, such as metering, network investment, or service quality.
It also enforces licence suspension/revocation, where in extreme cases, NERC can suspend or revoke Disco’s license, though this is rare.
It should be noted that sanctions are just one aspect of NERC’s regulatory efforts. They also issue regulations, conduct investigations, and engage in stakeholder consultations.
However, the effectiveness of sanctions is debatable, with some arguing that these sanctions have not significantly improved service delivery.
Many power users under the estimated electricity bill category, have repeatedly complained of being over-billed by Discos, as they often accused NERC of not enforcing adequate sanctions on the power distributors.
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2027: Govs Decamping To APC Will Work Against You, Primate Ayodele Warns Tinubu
Published
4 hours agoon
July 13, 2025By
Editor
The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against some of his appointments and governors decamping to the All Progressive Congress (APC) from other parties.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Primate Ayodele released a series of warnings to the president surrounding the Nigerian economy, insecurity, and several other issues.
He warned Tinubu to be careful, as they will use insecurity to disrupt his second-term ambition.
He also revealed that there are people in his government who are behind the insecurity, including those in Aso Rock.
READ ALSO: Why Niger Delta Is Critical To National Growth – Tinubu
He also asked security operatives to be careful in October as insecurity will go beyond necessary levels in the month, while also advising him to crash the prices of food commodities.
“Tinubu should be careful, they will use insecurity to disrupt his second term in office. Let him try so well to reduce the price of commodities, but there is still hardship. There are still issues in security, some people in the military, security parastatals, and even the villa are behind it.
“Insecurity will go beyond necessary as from October, He needs to work on insecurity very well and make sure the price of rice, garri, and essential food commodities are crashed if otherwise, it will be difficult for him. He shouldn’t let anyone deceive him; all is not well.”
Speaking further, Primate Ayodele warned Tinubu to avoid making a wrong person the national chairman of the party because it can lead to the selling out of the APC. He also called on the military to work against bombings because it’s another strategy to destabilize the government.
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“You should also avoid picking the wrong person as the APC national chairman so that the party won’t be sold out. Don’t pick a party chairman based on eye service, there are names of people that shouldn’t be your party chairman. The official date for the convention will affect the party’s stand; it should be changed.
“He needs to work on the youths and do a lot of strategy work on them. He shouldn’t do a wrong negotiation to avoid some challenges. The military should start working on bombings because that’s another strategy to destabilize this government.”
Primate Ayodele advised Tinubu to be careful of political enemies pretending to be for him, while advising him to keep most of his strategies to himself.
“You should also watch important documentation in the villa, overhaul your security, and watch your presidential jet very well. You have a lot of political enemies within your party that are pretending, keep most of your strategies to yourself because there are coalition moles in the APC.”
Continuing, Primate Ayodele warned Tinubu not to trust governors decamping to the APC because some of them will work against him. He urged him not to dismiss the coalition because they are ready to fight till the end.
“Don’t trust these governors, not all of them love you or joined you because they love you, their intentions are not totally pure, you need to be very careful. The opposition is well equipped and ready, the way you are. You can only defeat them with four things.
“You are not seeing anything, some of your enemies are getting appointed in your government, and most of the business people you rely on will shut you down. You need to work very fast,” he added.
News
BREAKING: Former President Muhammadu Buhari Is Dead
Published
4 hours agoon
July 13, 2025By
Editor
Buhari appoints rectors buhari, buhari rental income
Former President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, has passed away at the age of 82 years at a clinic in London.
This was disclosed in a statement shared by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, on his personal X account on Sunday.
“INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILAIHIRRAJIUUN.
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“The family of the former president has announced the passing on of the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, this afternoon in a clinic in London.
“May Allah accept him in Aljannatul Firdaus, Amin.”
Following the news of illness, his former aide, Bashir Ahmad, recently confirmed that the former president was receiving medical attention, but dismissed widespread claims suggesting he was in critical condition.
News
JUST IN: APC Sweeps Lagos LG Polls, Wins 57 Chairmanship Seats
Published
4 hours agoon
July 13, 2025By
Editor
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has emerged victorious in the July 12 local government elections held across Lagos State, clinching all 57 chairmanship positions and 375 out of 376 councillorship seats.
Announcing the results at a press briefing on Sunday, the Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Justice Mobolanle Abidemi Okikiolu-Ighile (Rtd.), confirmed the party’s dominant performance.
READ ALSO: Lagos LG Polls: Igbos Disenfranchised From Voting, Voted For — Ohanaeze
“The All Progressives Congress won all the chairmanship seats in the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas in the state,” she said.
“They also secured 375 out of the 376 councillorship seats in the Lagos LG polls. The only councillorship position not won by the APC was in Yaba LCDA, where the Peoples Democratic Party emerged victorious.”
Details later…
- 2027: Govs Decamping To APC Will Work Against You, Primate Ayodele Warns Tinubu
- BREAKING: Former President Muhammadu Buhari Is Dead
- JUST IN: APC Sweeps Lagos LG Polls, Wins 57 Chairmanship Seats
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