A High Court in Lagos has mandated electricity companies to give consumers three working days’ notice before interrupting their supply.
The suit was filed by a Lagos Lawyer, Bolaji Ramos against Eko Electricity distribution Plc (EKDP).
The judgment made it a legal duty for DisCos to always give customers a minimum of three working days’ notice before taking or interrupting the power supply in line with NERC’s Customer Service Standards of Performance for Distribution Companies 2007, made pursuant to Electric Power Sector Reform Act (No.6 of 2005).
Ramos had questioned whether by the clear provisions of Regulation, four of NERC’s Customer Service Standards of Performance for Distribution Companies 2007 made pursuant to Electric Power Sector Reform Act (No.6 of 2005), the Defendant is under mandatory obligations to give its customers a minimum of three working-day notice before causing any planned power supply interruption.
He also sought whether by the unambiguous provision of Regulation, four of NERC’s Customer Service Standards of Performance for Distribution Companies 2007 made pursuant to Electric Power Sector Reform Act (No.6 of 2005), the Defendant could interrupt its customers’ power supply other than for planned maintenance of its equipment, same which must still be preceded by a minimum of three (3) working-day notice to its customers.
Ramos, therefore, asked the court to make it a legal duty to always give the customers three working-day notice before taking or interrupting the Claimant’s power supply in line with NERC’s Customer Service Standards of Performance for Distribution Companies 2007, made pursuant to Electric Power Sector Reform Act (No.6 of 2005).
Ramos, among other pleas, said any interruption of the Claimant’s electricity supply by the DisCos without a minimum of three working-day prior notice is illegal, unlawful and in violation of NERC’s regulations.
Delivering the judgment, the court held that the Claimant’s claims succeeded in part and declared amongst others that DisCos owes a legal duty to always give the customer and other customers a minimum of three working-day notice before taking or interrupting the Claimant’s power supply in line with NERC’s regulations.
The court also declared that any interruption of the Claimant’s and other customers’ electricity supply by the Defendant without a minimum of three working-day prior notice is illegal, unlawful and in violation of NERC’s regulations.
Credit: Cool FM