The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has directed power distribution companies to refund all overbilled Band B customers by April 11.
This directive to the electricity distribution companies on implementation of the April 2024 supplementary Multi-Year Tariff Order was released on Saturday.
The directive came amid complaints from customers not on Band A, who are now being made to pay N225/KWh for electricity.
On Wednesday, the Federal Government said it would no longer pay subsidy on electricity consumed by Band A customers, but others would continue to pay the old rates.
However, as DisCos upgraded their payment platforms, some customers on Band B, C, D, and E said they were made to pay N225/KWh instead of the old tariff.
As a result, the NERC said it had directed all electricity distribution companies to refund the affected customers.
It directed that “All DisCos shall ensure that only the newly approved Band A feeders listed in their April 2024 supplementary orders are maintained as Band A for the purpose of vending to prepaid customers and billing for postpaid customers on their networks”.
The DisCos were also required to immediately post on their websites, the schedule of approved Band A feeders that have been affected by the rate review.
“All DisCos shall set up a portal by April 10, 2024 on their website that allows all customers to check their current bands by entering their meter or account numbers.
“All customers wrongly billed at the new rate should be refunded through energy tokens not later than Thursday, April 11, 2024, and file evidence of compliance with the commission by April 12, 2024,” the NERC ordered.
The commission said it shall monitor compliance with the requirements listed above and shall continue to provide support to all stakeholders as required.
Nigerians have continued to kick against the hike in electricity tariffs as well as the classification of some customers as Band A through the supply of 20-hour power supply.
