Over-billing: DisCo begins refund to customers

The Kaduna Electric, on Thursday, published the list of customers who had been refunded after being over-billed by the DisCo as directed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The full list of over 49,000 customers has been uploaded on the power distribution company’s website, www.kadunaelectric.com, in compliance with the NERC order.

NERC’s Capping Order directs distribution companies (DisCos) to ensure unmetered customers are not billed beyond a certain threshold.

The Registrar said in the order that the capping was aimed at aligning the estimated bills for unmetered customers with the measured consumption of metered customers on the same supply feeder.

In an introductory statement accompanying the list of refunded customers, Kaduna Electric said, “In compliance with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s Order on Non-compliance with Capping of Estimated Bills to unmetered customers for the period of January to September 2023, Kaduna Electric has completed credit adjustment to all affected customers as provided in NERC’s assessment report.

“The affected customers will notice a credit adjustment for the cumulative overbilled amount for the period of January to September 2023 on their February 2024 bills which is being delivered as of now.”

The company’s Head of Corporate Communication, Abdulazeez Abdullahi, said Kaduna Electric was committed to being a disciplined electricity market participant, hence, it’s ready to comply with all regulations and orders as directed by the regulator.

He, however, said that it was incumbent on customers to also endeavour to settle their debts for electricity consumed. Not doing so, he said, jeopardises the efforts at resuscitating Kaduna Electric.

He reiterated that prompt payment of bills and zero tolerance to all forms of energy theft are paramount in ensuring the power sector functions effectively.