The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) is recovering excess electricity units mistakenly credited to customers following an internal system glitch [1].
The recovery process affects users who received more power than they paid for, potentially leading to sudden drops in available credit for many households and businesses.
The company said the error occurred because a system glitch applied an old electricity tariff to accounts [1]. This technical failure resulted in the erroneous crediting of units to various customers within the distribution network [2].
The glitch was active between April and June 2026 [1]. During this three-month window, the outdated tariff calculations caused the system to overestimate the amount of electricity customers should receive for their payments [1].
IBEDC is now working to reclaim those excess units to correct the billing discrepancies. The company said it has not specified the total number of customers affected by the glitch or the total volume of units being recovered [1].
This incident highlights ongoing challenges with billing automation in the region's power sector. The use of outdated tariff data in active billing systems can lead to significant financial discrepancies for both the provider and the consumer [2].
“IBEDC is recovering excess electricity units mistakenly credited to customers following an internal system glitch.”
The recovery of these units indicates a vulnerability in IBEDC's automated billing infrastructure. For consumers, this creates a period of financial instability where previously paid-for energy is revoked, while for the utility provider, it underscores the necessity of rigorous auditing when transitioning between tariff structures to avoid revenue loss.
