The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has imposed a combined N628 million penalty on eight electricity distribution companies for illegally overcharging unmetered customers during the third quarter of 2024.
In a sweeping enforcement action, the regulator sanctioned:
- Abuja Electricity Distribution Company
- Eko DisCo
- Enugu DisCo
- Ikeja Electric
- Jos DisCo
- Kaduna Electric
- Kano DisCo
- Yola Electricity Distribution Company
The fines represent 5% of the total overbilled amounts collected from July to September 2024, when the DisCos violated NERC’s prescribed energy caps.
According to the commission’s statement: “All affected DisCos must issue credit adjustments to overcharged customers by May 15, 2025, correcting the illegal billing through their April electricity bills.”
This crackdown follows NERC’s 2020 Order on Capping of Estimated Bills (NERC/197/2020), which mandates that unmetered customers’ charges align with metered users on the same power feeders.
NERC reaffirmed its commitment to consumer protection, warning of stricter sanctions for future violations. Electricity consumers’ groups have welcomed the action but demand faster metering rollout to eliminate estimated billing entirely.
