Four electricity distribution companies (DisCos) have been punished by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) over their failure to treat customers’ complaints and submit statutory quarterly reports to the commission.
The commission said these DisCos were in breach of their licensing terms and conditions, provisions of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005 and regulations of the Commission.
The Commission said in its various directives it communicated to the affected DisCos, directing them to pay fines of various sums within two weeks.
It also informed that it never failed to notify them that after expiration of the period the fines attract five per cent daily interests until remedial steps were taken.
the acting Chairman, Dr. Anthony Akah, and General Manager, Legal, Licensing and Enforcement, Mrs. Olufunke Dinneh, after which
It said: “Two of the erring companies, Port Harcourt and Enugu electricity distribution companies were sanctioned for their failure to submit quarterly reports on their key performance indicators, whereas Ibadan and Ikeja electricity distribution companies were fined over failure to attend to customers’ complaints severally referred to them.
“According to Directive 152, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) flouted the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act 2005, its licensing terms and conditions as well as NERC Customer Complaints Handling: Standards and Procedures (CCHSP) Regulation 2006.
“The Commission received several complaints directly from electricity customers in IBEDC operational jurisdiction, based on which same was forwarded via letters dated October 27, 2015 and April 15, 2016 to IBEDC’s Customer Care Unit for resolution, in line with CCHSP, 2006.
“However, IBEDC failed or refused to comply with the Commission’s request/directive to resolve the customer complaints in accordance with the provisions of the CCSHP 2006.”
It said the IBEDC was subsequently fined N10, 000.00 on each of the three grounds of breach beginning from April 22, 2016 till July 25, 2016, which totalled N2, 850, 000 due for payment within two weeks beginning from the July date when the directives was signed.
On the IKEDC, the commission was found it guilty on three grounds of violating its licensing terms and conditions, EPSR Act 2005 and CCHSP that compel it to obey every directives of the Commission, treat customers complaints within a stipulated time frame as well as oblige the regulator every information sought from the company.
