PETITION AGAINST BEDC: Delta Hotel Owner Drags Electricity Firm Before NERC Over Alleged Faulty Meters, Excessive Billing

A formal PETITION AGAINST BEDC has been filed before the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Forum Office in Asaba, Delta State, over allegations that the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) failed to replace two electricity meters declared questionable by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), resulting in alleged excessive and unlawful billing.

Key Highlights

• Casa De Pedro Hotel files petition against BEDC before NERC.
• NEMSA reportedly found no certification records for the disputed meters.
• Agency recommends immediate decommissioning and replacement of the meters.
• Hotel alleges years of excessive and inaccurate electricity billing.
• BEDC accused of failing to act despite formal requests and regulatory concerns.
• Petition seeks intervention from NERC and relevant power sector authorities.

The petition, submitted by Rockson Legal on behalf of Casa De Pedro Limited, owners of Casa De Pedro Hotel (Main) and Casa De Pedro Hotel (Annex) in Effurun, Delta State, alleges that BEDC continued billing the company through meters whose operational integrity has been questioned by NEMSA.

According to documents submitted to regulators and obtained by The Trumpet, the disputed meters, identified by account numbers 0000534960 and 0000534967, became the subject of investigation after the hotel management observed significant discrepancies between actual business activities and electricity consumption records.

The company stated that despite reduced occupancy rates, ongoing room renovations, and the installation of a solar power system designed to cut electricity consumption by approximately 40 percent, meter readings continued to rise unexpectedly.

In a complaint addressed to BEDC’s Customer Complaints Unit, the hotel management highlighted several anomalies, including electricity consumption figures that allegedly increased during periods of lower business activity and nationwide power supply reductions.

The company noted that while December is traditionally its busiest season, meter records allegedly showed higher electricity consumption in January, raising concerns about the accuracy of the metering system.

Seeking an independent assessment, the hotel engaged NEMSA to verify the certification status and operational integrity of the meters.

In a letter dated May 14, 2026, NEMSA’s National Meter Test Station in Port Harcourt reportedly informed the company’s solicitors that a search of its database revealed no certification records for the two meters.

The agency further stated that the meters, manufactured in 2017, possessed opaque terminal covers, which allegedly contravened provisions of the Nigerian Metering Code.

According to NEMSA, the condition of the meters made it impossible to guarantee their ability to accurately measure and record electricity consumption for billing purposes.

Consequently, the agency advised BEDC to decommission and replace the affected meters with duly certified alternatives in compliance with the Electricity Act 2023 and existing metering regulations.

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Despite the NEMSA recommendation, the petition alleges that BEDC neither responded to the company’s formal demand nor replaced the meters.

Rockson Legal argued that the continued use of the disputed meters has prevented its client from determining the true extent of the alleged overbilling.

The law firm is therefore requesting that NERC compel BEDC to immediately replace the meters and investigate the circumstances surrounding the disputed billing records.

Copies of the petition were also forwarded to the Consumer Complaint Unit of NERC in Abuja, the Senate Committee on Power, the House of Representatives Committee on Power, and the NERC Forum Office in Asaba.

The development is expected to reignite discussions about metering transparency, consumer protection, and regulatory compliance within Nigeria’s electricity sector, where complaints about estimated and disputed billing remain a recurring concern.