The Lagos High Court has issued an injunction preventing both the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and the 11 electricity distribution companies from raising electricity tariffs.
Justice Lewis Allagoa of the Lagos State High Court, on Monday, gave the interim ex parte order in a suit marked FHC/L/CS/881/2024 recorded by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.
NERC in April endorsed the hike in the electricity tariff from N66 to N225 per kilowatt (kW) for customers in Band, who are receiving 20 hours of power supply every day. The MAN encouraged the court to order the discos and the NERC to return to the previous electricity tariff.
Considering the application and the applicant’s submissions, Justice Allagoa, ordered the respondents to halt taking any further steps, including disengaging power supply, pending the determination of the motion in the matter.
“That the order is without prejudice to the obligation of the plaintiff from paying their electricity bill at the old rate,” the judge said, adjourning the matter to Monday, June 24, for a hearing.
The primary respondents within the suit are the discos which comprised the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC), Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDC).
Other respondents included the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC), Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC), Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC), Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), and Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC).
