The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, has backed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERCโs recent N10.5 fine on eleven electricity distribution companies over arbitrary billing of unmetered consumers.
OsunDailyNG reports that NERC slammed N10.5 billion sanction on DisCos over non-compliance with the capping of estimated bills for unmetered customers.
Reacting to the development, FCCPC, in a statement by Adamu Abdullahi, Acting Executive Vice Chairman, said the move will protect consumers from obnoxious practices by companies operating in Nigeria.
โThis decisive measure aligns with the FCCPCโs mandate outlined in the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, FCCPA 2018, particularly Section 17 (s), which empowers the Commission to protect consumers from obnoxious practices or unscrupulous exploitation by companies, firms, trade associations or individuals, and to demand redress on their behalf.
โWe stand in solidarity with NERC in its commitment to safeguard unmetered customers from arbitrary billing by DisCos. The capping regulation was a significant step towards ensuring fairer treatment for those without meters, and the FCCPC fully supports its enforcementโ, he stated.