The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has imposed sanctions on eight electricity distribution companies (DisCos) for failing to adhere to the monthly energy caps for unmetered customers during the third quarter of 2024.
In a statement released on Thursday, the commission revealed that the affected DisCos—Abuja, Eko, Enugu, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, and Yola—were fined a total of over N628 million for their failure to comply with the energy consumption limits set by NERC for the months of July through September 2024.
The commission emphasized that the fines were necessary to uphold the integrity of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) and protect consumers from unfair practices. NERC’s directive also mandates the DisCos to issue credit adjustments to affected customers by May 15, 2025, to compensate for any discrepancies in billing during the non-compliant period.
The NERC statement, referencing Section 34(1)(d) of the Electricity Act 2023 (EA 2023), outlined the regulatory framework governing the sanctions and reinforced the commission’s commitment to ensuring that electricity providers operate within established guidelines.
The sanctions serve as a reminder to DisCos about the importance of maintaining compliance with regulations meant to safeguard the interests of consumers, especially those without meters.
The commission further noted that the move aligns with NERC’s ongoing efforts to improve accountability, foster fair practices in the electricity market, and ensure that Nigerians are not unfairly burdened by excessive electricity bills.
As the deadline for issuing credit adjustments looms, stakeholders are urging the affected DisCos to act promptly in addressing the issue and meeting NERC’s regulatory requirements.
