Electricity Tariff Increase: Band A Customers Lose Against 11 DISCOS

Band A customers of the electricity distribution companies (DISCOS) have lost in their bid to stop the DISCOs increasing electricity tariff.

They lost in case which was brought before the federal high court in Lagos by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).

MAN approached the court to object to the DISCOs increased the electricity tariff for Band A customers from N66 to N225 per kilowatt hours.

The apex association for Nigerian manufacturers kicked against the procedure adopted by the DISCOs in increasing their tariffs.

According to it, the regulatory procedures for tariff reviews Band A Customers were not properly followed before NERC issued the Supplementary Order on April 3, 2024, and the revised rate on May 6, 2024.

MAN also contended that applying the tariff increase solely to Band “A” feeders, while excluding other bands, constituted discrimination against those consumers.

Reacting to that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) objected to the suit stating that MAN’s case constituted an abuse of court processes.

The commission added that MAN was hasty and failed to follow due process in approaching the court of law.

READ ALSO: New Tariff: Electricity ‘Band A’ Customers In Lagos [FULL LIST]

READ ALSO: Electricity Billing Robbery – Ibafo Residents Give IBEDC 30-Day Ultimatum

The court ruled in favour of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), according to a statement on Monday, October 7, 2024.

It said the court ruled that case was premature, and failed to comply with section 51 of the Electricity Act 2023; it thus lacked a reasonable cause of action.

The court added that the association had not exhausted the dispute resolution mechanism before approaching it.

As a result, the Court ruled that the suit was not filed in accordance with due process and subsequently dismissed the case.

The Eagle will provide follow ups where and when necessary.