EFCC to Probe Electricity DISCOs for Overbilling Customers in VGC

The Nigerian Electricity Regulation Company (NERC) has invited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the Eko Electricity Distribution Company over fraudulent electricity charges to customers in the Victoria Garden City area.

Dr. Sam Amadi, DG of NERC, disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja on Monday.

He said, “We have received reports of some illegal billings in a few business centres where customers were prevented from vending electricity tokens until they pay illegal fixed charges. One particular instance involved residents of VGC in Lagos, who were individually metered and, therefore, ought to be on Residential 2 class and pay a fixed charge of N500 monthly and energy charge of N12.87/KWh, but were asked to pay N21,256.30 before they were allowed to vend at the EEDC VGC Business Centre.

“As soon as we received the report of overbilling of VGC consumers, we quickly investigated and wrote to the CEO of EEDC for the immediate stoppage of the illegality. Because the case involved possible forgery of NERC’s order and criminal behaviour, we have addressed a request to the Chairman of EFCC to investigate the matter and prosecute EEDC officials who may be liable for criminal prosecution.”

The NERC boss said that the regulatory body was committed to ensuring that Nigerians were not exploited by the operators in the sector.