The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has ordered the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to refund the sum of N475,000 to an 80-year-old retired civil servant and widow in Anambra State.
Lead person in the panel, Engr Nwoye Chibuzo read the ruling of NERC.
The refund relates to years of illegal and arbitrary billing, which the commission deemed unjustifiable.
According to NERC, prior to the takeover of electricity distribution by EEDC from the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), the woman had an outstanding balance of N72,000.
The regulatory body directed EEDC to deduct this amount from the total accumulated debt of N547,000 and refund the balance to the affected consumer.
The commission ordered EEDC not to disconnect the customer’s electricity supply based on the disputed arrears of over half a million naira.
It also mandated that all future billings be strictly based on actual consumption as determined by the customer’s prepaid meter, in line with NERC regulations, and not on estimated or arbitrary charges.
NERC gave EEDC one month to rectify the situation and to begin billing the customer accurately based on her energy usage.
NERC’s investigation revealed that EEDC continued billing the consumer N5,000 monthly, a practice that originated during the PHCN era. This persisted even after the consumer migrated to a prepaid metering system in 2023. Despite using a prepaid meter, the customer was still subjected to additional monthly charges, in direct contradiction of regulations.
The commission expressed regret that EEDC failed to halt the illegal billing even after the customer’s transition to prepaid metering. The N72,000 originally inherited as debt from PHCN was buried under a growing and unjustified billing cycle, ultimately leading to a claim of N547,000 in arrears.
These directives were issued during a hearing on a petition filed by the widow, who challenged the existence of the alleged arrears.
Recounting her experience, the 80-year-old woman explained that in December 2023, her household’s meter began flashing a red light, making it impossible to recharge. Her son reported the issue to EEDC, and a technician identified only as ThankGod came to inspect the meter. During the inspection, a plastic component reportedly fell from the device, after which the technician informed them the meter had expired.
She said they were without power for almost six months, relying on a generator while awaiting EEDC’s response. Despite visiting the EEDC office repeatedly, she said her concerns were ignored. Eventually, officials revisited her home, confirmed that the meter was faulty, but later accused her of tampering with it, an allegation she strongly denies.
“I did not tamper with the meter.
“The only person who touched it was from EEDC. Yet, they gave me a letter accusing me of tampering. I went to six different senior officials at EEDC, but none took action.”she said.
Despite her protests, EEDC fined her N104,000 for alleged meter tampering, which she paid. Her electricity was finally reconnected in June 2024, after which she received an October bill of N60,000, which included an additional N547,000 in arrears.
“I was shocked. We didn’t have electricity for six months, yet they claimed I owed so much. I’ve been recharging my meter all along,” she said, adding that since October 2024, she has paid over N480,000, not including the N104,000 paid as a fine.
She recalled one instance where she paid only N27,000, prompting EEDC to disconnect her power supply again.
Comrade Osita Obi the convener of the Recover Nigeria Project, who accompanied the widow, challenged EEDC’s practice of inheriting only the assets of PHCN while refusing to accept its liabilities.
He said the widow’s husband had paid for two prepaid meters before PHCN was phased out, but only one was delivered. EEDC, he claimed, refused to honour the second meter delivery, arguing that it was not part of their administration.
“I was there when her husband paid for two meters. PHCN only delivered one before the transition to EEDC. When we asked EEDC for the second meter, they refused, saying it wasn’t their responsibility. How can you inherit only assets without inheriting liabilities?” he asked.
He accused EEDC of exploiting consumers and urged NERC to compel the company to deliver the second meter, for which the family had already paid.
