Justice Oyekan-Abdullahi of the High Court of Lagos State today ordered that prior to power interruption the Eko Electricity distribution Plc (EKDC) must issue notice to its customers.
The court made the orders today following the suit filed by one Mr. Bolaji Ramos seeking both declaratory and injuctive reliefs against the Electricity Company.
At the resumed hearing today, 12th November, 2019, the honourable court upon hearing argument on the originating summons granted three out of the four reliefs sought by the Claimant and ordered the parties to appear at the next date to address her on the remaining reliefs to enable the court make an informed decision.
Among the reliefs granted by the court are:
An order that the interruption of the Claimant’s electricity supply by the Defendant without a minimum of three (3) working-day prior notice is illegal, unlawful and in violation of NERC’s Customer Service Standards of Performance for Distribution Companies 2007, made pursuant to Electric Power Sector Reform Act (No.6 of 2005).
An order that the Defendant may only cause planned or deliberate interruption of the Claimant’s electricity supply only after giving a minimum of three (3) working-day prior notice of such interruption.
An order that the Defendant may only cause planned or deliberate interruption of the Claimant’s electricity supply only for the purpose of maintaining its equipment, and such interruption must be preceded by a minimum of three (3) working-day prior notice 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).
The court specifically directed that the above orders shall apply to the whole of Ijesha, Surulere, Lagos State and other areas in Lagos State within the coverage of EKDC.
Mr. Bolaji Ramos had by an originating summons sort the court’s interpretation of the provisions of REGULATION 4 OF THE CUSTOMER SERVICES STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE FOR DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES REGULATIONS 2007, SECTIONS 32 & 80 OF THE ELECTRIC POWER SECTOR REFORM ACT 2005 and prayed the court to grant both declaratory and injuctive reliefs in the event that the questions set out for the court were answered in the affirmative.
The case was subsequently adjourned to 13th January, 2020 for argument in respect of the remaining reliefs sought in the Originating Summons.