NERC Bauchi Forum Intervention Ends 26-Day Power Disconnection at Bauchi Residence

BAUCHI, Nigeria — A 26-day electricity disconnection at the residence of Nasiru Hassan, a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in Yalwan Makaranta, Bauchi State, has ended following the intervention of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) after he lodged a complaint against the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED).

The incident began on September 23, 2026, when JED disconnected electricity supply to Hassan's residence over a dispute concerning the property's electricity tariff classification.

According to Hassan, the residence had previously been assessed by JED, after which a prepaid meter was installed and activated. He said he had purchased electricity units before the disconnection.

However, a JED monitoring team later reportedly maintained that the residence should be classified under Band A and disconnected the electricity supply without prior written notice to the household.

Hassan, who was away from Bauchi at the time, said he was informed of the disconnection by telephone. He explained that he had urged the monitoring team not to disconnect the supply, arguing that if there was any issue he was unaware of, it should first be resolved without cutting off electricity to the household.

However, according to him, his appeal was not heeded, and the electricity supply was disconnected immediately.

Following the incident, Hassan submitted a written complaint to the JED Bauchi Regional Office on September 23, 2026. The company's customer care department subsequently contacted him to request the telephone number of the monitoring team member involved in the disconnection. He said he provided the requested information, but electricity was not restored immediately.

The prolonged outage left Hassan and his family without electricity for 26 days, causing considerable hardship.

In an effort to resolve the matter, Hassan escalated his complaint to NERC, submitting a formal letter to the commission on October 16, 2026. The commission received and stamped the complaint. According to Hassan, an official informed him that NERC would contact JED concerning the restoration of electricity and the review of the complaint.

Electricity supply was eventually restored to his residence on the evening of October 19, 2026, bringing an end to the prolonged outage and considerable relief to Hassan and his family.

However, Hassan said the restoration of electricity did not mean he was prepared to abandon his efforts to seek an explanation and pursue his rights over the disconnection, which had left his family without power for 26 days.

However, the restoration of electricity to Mr. Nasiru's residence following NERC's intervention may not mark the end of the dispute, as the journalist intends to take legal action against JED to seek redress over the disconnection of his electricity supply for 26 days without prior notice, which he considers unlawful.

He said he had compiled relevant documents that could support his efforts to seek redress over the incident.

Hassan subsequently approached NERC to request an official written response to his complaint. According to him, the commission's secretary explained that NERC's approach prioritises prompt action to protect electricity consumers' rights, rather than delaying intervention while preparing written responses to individual complaints. The secretary also told him that, under the policy explained to him, the commission does not routinely issue written replies to complainants.

NERC's Role in Protecting Electricity Consumers

The incident has drawn attention to the importance of consumer awareness and access to regulatory channels for resolving electricity-related disputes.

Hassan said many electricity consumers might be unaware of NERC's role in protecting their rights, leaving some to endure service-related grievances without knowing where to seek assistance.

He believes greater public awareness of the commission's consumer protection responsibilities could encourage more people to report grievances and seek redress when they believe their rights have been violated.

Drawing from his own experience of spending 26 days without electricity alongside his family, Hassan said he had decided to take it upon himself to educate members of the public about NERC and the avenues available to electricity consumers seeking to protect their rights.

The case also raises questions about communication with consumers before disconnections, transparency in tariff classification, and the need for clear explanations when disputes arise over the tariff band assigned to a property.

Although electricity has been restored to Hassan's residence, his experience highlights the difficulties households may face when disputes with electricity distribution companies remain unresolved and the importance of accessible, effective complaint-handling mechanisms.

NERC is the federal regulator responsible for overseeing Nigeria's electricity supply industry, including regulatory oversight and the protection of electricity consumers' interests.