By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
A Kaduna-based Human Rights Organization has raised serious allegations against Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDCO), claiming systemic violations of customer rights and regulatory obligations.Eagle Brain Human Rights Organization (EBHRO), a civil society group promoting transparency and accountability, submitted a formal complaint to KAEDCO in a letter referenced EBHRO/KED/Complaint/001/2026. The letter, made available to journalists Tuesday night in Kaduna, was signed by the organization’s Executive Director, Comrade Daniel Ejembi.The letter, titled *“Formal Complaint and Demand for Immediate Explanation, Cessation, and Remedial Actions Regarding Systemic Violations of Customer Rights and Regulatory Obligations,”* outlines allegations of wrongful, coercive, and excessive electricity billing. It accuses KAEDCO of unilaterally increasing monthly debt repayment amounts from ₦1,000 to between ₦3,000 and ₦33,000 without prior notice, consultation, justification, or regulatory approval.
Other claims include forcing customers to pay for electricity meters meant to be free under government policy, misclassification into incorrect tariff bands, and charging for meter replacements caused by network faults rather than customer negligence.“These practices constitute serious breaches of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) laws and regulations, including the Electricity Act 2023, Customer Protection Regulations 2023, and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018,” the organization stated.The letter details regulatory frameworks allegedly violated, such as the Service Reflective Tariff (SRT) and Service-Based Tariff (SBT) frameworks, which mandate billing aligned with actual supply hours and compensation for failures. It also cites directives on free replacement of faulty meters and prohibitions against arbitrary billing increases.
EBHRO warned that these practices have caused financial hardship, confusion, and loss of confidence in Kaduna’s electricity distribution system, especially among low-income households.The organization demanded that KAEDCO, within 14 days, provide a written explanation and documentary evidence justifying its actions. It also called for immediate refunds with interest for unlawfully collected funds, reversal of arbitrary debt repayment increases, free replacement of damaged meters, and public communication of customer rights.The complaint further urges KAEDCO to conduct an independent audit of customer accounts, correct misclassified tariff bands, and establish an accessible complaint resolution mechanism monitored by NERC and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
EBHRO cautioned that failure to comply could result in legal action, including seeking declarations, injunctions, damages, and petitions to NERC, FCCPC, EFCC, ICPC, and other relevant agencies for investigation into possible corruption and systematic consumer exploitation.The organization emphasized its openness to dialogue while mobilizing affected customers to escalate the matter through public advocacy and international human rights reporting channels. Copies of the complaint were sent to 12 relevant institutions, including the NERC Chairman and national media outlets.
