FCCPC Orders DisCo to Refund Customers for Transformer Purchases

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has declared that Nigerian electricity consumers should not be responsible for purchasing essential infrastructure such as transformers, poles, and cables.

At the FCCPC Electricity Consumer Forum held in Ota, Ogun State, the commission ordered the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to refund all expenses incurred by customers who purchased these items.

Community leaders expressed frustration over IBEDC’s lack of response to complaints, despite multiple letters. Some communities reported spending millions on up to 80 transformers, yet still struggled with installation delays.

IBEDC officials argued that communities should have sought approval before making purchases. However, FCCPC representatives countered that refunds must be issued for previous transactions, while future purchases should be handled exclusively by electricity providers.

The commission urged Nigerians to report similar cases and assured that refunds will be processed through energy credits.

FCCPC also referenced a recent example where another electricity distributor, Jos DisCo, refunded customers without regulatory intervention.