A Federal High Court in Kano has issued a restriction against the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) from implementing the new electricity tariff for Band A consumers.
The presiding judge, Abdullahi Liman, issued an interim order restraining NERC and KEDCO from proceeding with the impending tariff increase pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed before the court.
The court order also prohibits the defendants from intimidating and threatening to disconnect the electricity supply of the applicants for their non-acceptance of the new increased tariff.
The suit, marked FHC/KN/CS/144/2024, was filed by Super Sack Company Limited, BBY Sacks Limited, Mama Sannu Industries Limited, Dala Foods Nigeria Limited, Tofa Textile Limited, and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Limited (MAN).
The motion ex-parte was moved by Abubakar Mahmoud, counsel to the plaintiffs.
NERC had, on April 3, approved an increase in electricity tariff for customers under the Band A classification. Customers under this category, who receive 20 hours of electricity supply daily, were directed to begin paying N225 per kilowatt (kW), starting from April 3 — up from N66.
However, the sudden tariff hike has faced criticism from the House of Representatives and other stakeholders, prompting calls for NERC to suspend the implementation of the new tariff.
The court’s decision to restrain NERC and KEDCO from implementing the new tariff for Band A consumers comes as a relief to the plaintiffs and other affected consumers.
