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The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has received several complaints from electricity consumers in the franchise area of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC). These complaints are with respect to their inability to purchase electricity tokens or units for their prepaid meters over a recent extended period of time.
The Commission has been in engagement with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and IKEDC in order to resolve these complaints and any associated difficulties with vending or purchasing tokens.
The Commission understands that the difficulties arose in part because the past days have been public holidays; and vending agents were inundated with significant purchases in excess of usual vending and purchase, as a result of consumers seeking to make larger than usual purchases in order to pre-empt any perceived change in tariffs purportedly on July 1, 2023 as has been rumoured, perceived or represented publicly.
The situation is now under control and IKEDC represented to the Commission that any vending constraints are unassociated with any presumptive changes in tariff.
IKEDC has committed to continuing to conduct its business, including vending tokens in accordance with prevailing law and tariff of the time of vending.
The Commission noted to IKEDC and now reiterates to other Discos that restricting or constricting supply or vending in a manner that prevents or impedes purchases or consumption at consumer discretion in anticipation of any changes in prevailing fiscal regimes constitutes an infringement of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018 (FCCPA) and is impermissibly oppressive. Sections 17(g), (x) and 125 of the FCCPA prohibits unconscionable, obnoxious, unfair, unscrupulous business practises, as well as unfair tactics in the course of legitimate business.
The Commission will enforce the law to the fullest extent of same, especially when the conduct is to deny citizens access to an essential utility except under operation of law.
Babatunde Irukera
Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer
