The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has taken drastic action against Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC) for allegedly violating consumer rights and failing to comply with regulatory directives.
The commission sealed the company’s premises in Alausa, Ikeja, following prolonged efforts to secure cooperation on a metering and service-related dispute.
“We had to take this step after repeated engagement with the distribution company,” said Bola Adeyinka, FCCPC’s Director of Surveillance and Investigation on Thursday.
“The shutdown became necessary after Ikeja Electric failed to comply with binding instructions issued by both the FCCPC and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)”.
According to the FCCPC, NERC had directed Ikeja Electric to unbundle a Maximum Demand account into 20 separate non-Maximum Demand accounts to reflect 19 residential units and one service point belonging to a complainant.
However, the company failed to carry out the regulatory order, leaving the complainant without electricity supply for over two and a half years despite fulfilling all payment obligations.
“The seal on the facility will remain in place until the distribution company fully complies with all regulatory directives and provides written evidence of compliance to both agencies,” Adeyinka stated.
She emphasized that the measure was a proportionate enforcement step taken only after multiple opportunities for voluntary compliance were ignored.
The FCCPC reiterated its commitment to enforcing consumer protection laws and ensuring that electricity distribution companies uphold their obligations to customers across the country.
Leave a comment