By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
The Kogi State Electricity Regulatory Commission has ordered the Kogi Electricity Distribution Limited to restore power to Karomsi Garden Hotels Limited within seven days after finding breaches linked to illegal power tapping, billing and technical faults.
The commission also directed KEDL to replace the hotel’s disputed meter, correct electricity bills issued between January 2025 and March 2026, and fix defects identified in the hotel’s power infrastructure.
The directives followed a petition filed by the hotel through its lawyers, A.S. Akpala & Co., over what it described as prolonged power disruption, excessive billing and alleged misconduct by KEDL personnel.
KERC’s investigation found that a KEDL employee identified as Mohammed was involved in the unauthorised tapping of the hotel’s dedicated electricity line.
The commission said the act breached the Kogi State Electricity Law 2024 and referred the implicated staff to the Kogi State Special Task Force on Electricity Theft.
The regulator also faulted KEDL for disconnecting the hotel’s electricity supply on April 27, 2026, without prior notice despite the unresolved complaints.
KERC further identified defects in the installation of the hotel’s transformer, including problems with the neutral line and earthing.
The commission said the faults contributed to low voltage and damaged some electrical appliances at the hotel.
It also questioned the sharp increase in the hotel’s electricity bills, which reportedly rose from an average of about ₦697,220 to nearly ₦3m.
KERC consequently ordered KEDL to recalculate the disputed bills and issue corrected bills within 14 days.
It directed the distribution company to replace the meter at no cost to the hotel and rectify all identified technical defects.
However, the commission dismissed the hotel’s claim for ₦50m in damages, directing it to pursue the matter through the appropriate appeal process.
The petition was filed on May 4, 2026, after the hotel alleged that KEDL’s handling of its electricity supply had disrupted its operations and caused financial losses.
Although KEDL reportedly admitted to the unauthorised tapping, it denied allegations that its personnel destroyed the hotel’s meter.
The hotel’s Managing Director, Prince Sunday Inah, said KEDL had yet to fully comply with the commission’s directives.
Inah called for strict enforcement of the KERC resolution and commended the commission for what he described as its commitment to transparency and accountability in the electricity sector.