By Dipo Olowookere
The Benin City and Port Harcourt Electric Distribution Companies have been slammed with a total fine of N6.220 million for failing to comply with the decisions of Forum Offices rulings in complaints filed by their respective customers.
The electricity firms were hit with the big stick by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
In the case of the Benin Electric, the NERC fined it N5.010 million for not complying with the decision of the Forum in complaints filed by three of its customers on estimated billings.
“The Commission hereby fines BEDC N10,000 per day from April 14, 2016 to September 28, 2016 making a total (N1.670million) in each of the three instances bringing the fines to N5.010million,” a statement by spokesman of NERC, Mr Usman Abba Arabi disclosed.
It was a similar case for the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC), which was sanctioned for failing to comply with the Forum Office decision in a complaint from a customer over metering in May.
NERC ordered the firm to pay a N10,000 daily fine from May 30 to September 28 amounting to N1.19 million.
The Benin Disco has been given two weeks from September 28, 2016 to pay the fine or be ready to pay a 5 percent interest daily.
Adedapo Adesanya