The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has moved to tackle the festering issue of estimated billing by electricity distribution companies.
The commission has issued notices of intention to commence enforcement action against Seven electricity distribution companies in the country over their failure to comply with the Order 197/2020 on capping of unmetered R2 and C1 electricity customers.
Discos are hiding the cover of unmetered houses to level outrageous bills on electricity consumers many of whom have been complaining bitterly.
The unfortunate thing is that the bill sent to such users must be paid no matter how outrageous before any complains are listened to.
The affected Discos according to NERC have 14 days beginning from June 4, 2020, to explain why the Commission should not sanction them over their alleged non-compliance.
The NERC that gave the notice on twitter identified the Discos that have failed to comply with the order to include Benin, Enugu, Eko, Ikeja, Kano, Kaduna and Port Harcourt.
By the order No/NERC/197/2020, dated February 20, 2020, NERC repealed the NERC (Methodology for Estimated Billing) Regulations 2012 and made an order capping estimated bill to unmetered customers by Discos in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
The NERC Order 197 2020 took effect from February 20, 2020, with intent to protect unmetered R2 (Residential-single and 3-phase meters, who consume more than 50kWh per month) and C1(Commercial-single and 3-phase meters, small businesses) customers from arbitrary billing and expedite their metering process.
The order states that Discos are to ensure all tariff class A1 customers (customers using grid-connected premises for agriculture, schools, water boards, religious houses, government and teaching hospitals, etc, that require single or 3 phase meters) are properly identified and metered by April 30, 2020.
Besides, all unmetered R2 and C1 customers shall NOT be invoiced for consumption of energy beyond the price capped in schedule 1 of the Order, (by illustration, NGN1, 872.00 for R2, where consumption is capped at 78kWhr per month at a tariff of NGN24/kWh).
“All Residential customers who consume not more than 50kWhr (R1 Customers) per month shall be billed NGN4/kWh at a total maximum of NGN200 per month; All other customers on higher tariffs shall be metered by April 30, 2020 otherwise they shall remain connected to supply but without further payment to the Discos until a meter is installed.
The Order stated that any customer whose current estimated bill is below the capped price shall remain so without upward review until the installation of a meter; and any customer who rejects the installation of a meter must be disconnected by the Disco.
Schedule 1 of the Order makes clear provisions for Area/Business unit-specific billings per kWh for R1 and C1 customers. For example, in Abuja, whereas Kubwa is billed 114kWh for R2 and 120kWh for C1, Maitama is billed 432kWh for R2 and 548kWh for C1.
In Lagos, whereas Apapa is billed 376kWh for R2T and 300kWh for C1S, Island is billed 774kWh for R2T and 648kWh for C1T. Whereas, Jigawa North is billed 61kWh for R2A and 60kWh for C1A, Kano Central is billed 83kWh for R2A and 86kWh for C1A.
The affected Discos according to NERC have 14 days beginning from June 4, 2020, to explain why the Commission should not sanction them over their alleged non-compliance.
The NERC that gave the notice on twitter identified the Discos that have failed to comply with the order to include Benin, Enugu, Eko, Ikeja, Kano, Kaduna and Port Harcourt.
By the order No/NERC/197/2020, dated February 20, 2020, NERC repealed the NERC (Methodology for Estimated Billing) Regulations 2012 and made an order capping estimated bill to unmetered customers by Discos in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
The NERC Order 197 2020 took effect from February 20, 2020, with intent to protect unmetered R2 (Residential-single and 3-phase meters, who consume more than 50kWh per month) and C1(Commercial-single and 3-phase meters, small businesses) customers from arbitrary billing and expedite their metering process.
The order states that Discos are to ensure all tariff class A1 customers (customers using grid-connected premises for agriculture, schools, water boards, religious houses, government and teaching hospitals, etc, that require single or 3 phase meters) are properly identified and metered by April 30, 2020.
Besides, all unmetered R2 and C1 customers shall NOT be invoiced for consumption of energy beyond the price capped in schedule 1 of the Order, (by illustration, NGN1, 872.00 for R2, where consumption is capped at 78kWhr per month at a tariff of NGN24/kWh).
“All Residential customers who consume not more than 50kWhr (R1 Customers) per month shall be billed NGN4/kWh at a total maximum of NGN200 per month; All other customers on higher tariffs shall be metered by April 30, 2020 otherwise they shall remain connected to supply but without further payment to the Discos until a meter is installed.
The Order stated that any customer whose current estimated bill is below the capped price shall remain so without upward review until the installation of a meter; and any customer who rejects the installation of a meter must be disconnected by the Disco.
Schedule 1 of the Order makes clear provisions for Area/Business unit-specific billings per kWh for R1 and C1 customers. For example, in Abuja, whereas Kubwa is billed 114kWh for R2 and 120kWh for C1, Maitama is billed 432kWh for R2 and 548kWh for C1.
In Lagos, whereas Apapa is billed 376kWh for R2T and 300kWh for C1S, Island is billed 774kWh for R2T and 648kWh for C1T. Whereas, Jigawa North is billed 61kWh for R2A and 60kWh for C1A, Kano Central is billed 83kWh for R2A and 86kWh for C1A.
