How Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission Was Accused Of Covering For Ibadan Distribution Company Amid Negligence, Meter Number Mix-up

Femi narrated to SaharaReporters how he appealed to the electricity regulatory commission to intervene over illegal billing by IBEDC, but accused NERC of compromising on its standard and supporting electricity distribution companies to rip Nigerians off.

He explained that while he was living at No. 70. Sultan Street, off Taiwo Road, Ilorin, with meter number NEPA/85/525/080344, IBEDC Baboko Business Hub, Ilorin, Kwara State imposed on him a bill with the name: Alhall Abdulmalik Olanrewaju, Account No: 24/21/37/3672-01 and S/Address: Adjacent To Kewulere Mosque Oko Erin Road, Oko Erin Area, Ilorin.

In a letter to the Business Manager, IBEDC, Baboko Business Hub, Ilorin Kwara State, titled: “Request For My Valid Bill,” dated July 7, 2021, Femi appealed to the electricity distribution company to address the anomaly, but regretted that instead they came and disconnected his place without prior notice as stipulated in NERC regulations.

In the letter seen by SaharaReporters, Femi stated, “I kindly wish to draw your attention to the monthly bill I receive from your marketer which doesn’t tally with my meter number NEPA/85/525/080344. The bill received has a conflicting address with my address. However, all efforts through your marketer to rectify their problems have proven abortive.

“In the light of this situation. I formally write to request for my valid bill bearing my address and meter number.”

Femi said immediately after they received the letter, his place was disconnected.

He said, “I was disconnected from the 10th of July till September 22, 2021,” adding that the development prompted him to write NERC.

He said that he wrote the NERC on August 11, 2023, and wrote another letter dated 28/9/23 for intervention to penalise the DisCo for violating the regulations.

One of the letters dated September 28, 2023, titled ‘Letter of Appeal to the Decision of Forum Representing Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), reads: “This letter is to express my dissatisfaction over the decision of the forum concerning my previous request (documents attached for ease of reference) on the issue of wrong billing.

“The bill imposed on the building by the marketer of IBEDC does not carry the name, address, longitude and latitude of that building despite complaining verbally and in writing which did not receive any response nor action.

“Equally, on 10th July, 2023 the marketer disconnected the flats concerned without formal notification, however, reconnected on 20th September, 2023 after the intervention of NERC forum.

“In view of the above, I wish to request for compensation as stated in NERC customer protection regulation for the period of the wrong disconnection of the flats by IBEDC which was established by NERC forum, and fresh accounts be opened bearing my name, address, longitude and latitude.

“While thanking you in anticipation, please accept the expression of my humble regards.”

In its reply, with Ref number: NERC/11/CA/FO/LRN/23/909, dated 7/11/2023 and titled: “Ruling In Respect Of Your Complaint Against IBEDC,” NERC only ordered IBEDC to expunge the August bill despite Femi was disconnected from July 10 till September 22.

The ruling signed by Oluwakemi Mary Ayanda, Secretary, Ilorin Forum Office, partly read: “APPEAL NO. LRN/FO/NERC/909/23 Afolabi Oluwafemi VS IBEDC. Above Subject Refers.

“You may recall that the Forum passed its ruling on the above complainants on the 7th day of November 2023 as follows:

“Appeal No. LRN/FO/NERC/909/23 Afolabi Oluwafemi VS IBEDC.

“Pursuant to Section 36(1 & 6) and Section 41 (2) (3) Customer Protection Regulation 2023 the Forum ordered that:

“1. The respondent shall conclude the necessary credit adjustment (Expunge August 2023 Bill) on or before 10th December 2023

“2. The complainant shall pay up outstanding.”

Speaking with SaharaReporters, Femi regretted that NERC could ignore its own rules to protect the electricity distribution company probably because he is not a lawyer to challenge their decision in court.

He said: “They ignore my compensation request as stated by NERC that every day of disconnection without notifications attracts a fine of N10,000 despite NERC asking them to provide proof of disconnection notice which they were unable to provide. Instead, NERC pleaded we should let that slide because if we press further, IBEDC officials might lose their jobs.”