Oscarline Onwuemenyi
09 October 2016, Sweetcrude, Abuja – The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has fined the Benin and Port Harcourt electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) N6.2million for not complying with rulings on complaints filed by customers.
A statement from the commission indicated that it imposed N5.01 million on Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) for not complying with the decision following complaints filed by Ikponmwosa Barry, S. C. Ogoke, and F. E. Ubuane.
The decisions were made by the NERC-organised Forum Office, which comprises five members of the public and is responsible for unresolved customer complaints.
Messrs. Barry and Ubuane had filed complaints before the Benin Forum Office alleging fraudulent estimation of their electricity bills to which the Forum Office ruled in their favour, while Mr. Ogoke in his complaint contested the amount of fixed charge he was to pay the utility company.
However, Benin DISCO ignored the directives of the Forum Office in those instances and the matter was subsequently referred to the Commission which issued Directives 153 upon completion of enforcement proceedings.
The commission said besides the fine, the distribution companies shall still comply with the forum decisions.
In a related development, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) was sanctioned for its failure to comply with the Port Harcourt Forum Office decision in a complaint filed by one Toba Aremu Olugbemi.
The complainant had on May 11, complained about the availability of meter to which there was no response from PHEDC. The company was fined N10, 000.
