PUNCH
There is growing dissatisfaction among electricity consumers regarding the poor quality of services provided by the electricity distribution companies, writes DANIEL ADAJI
Electricity consumers are unhappy over what they describe as exploitation by electricity distribution companies in the country.
Issues such as delayed access to prepaid meters, requests for bribes, and illegal disconnections are among the major complaints raised by consumers.
A senior staff member of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told The PUNCH that customer service delivery in Bwari Area Council was deplorable.
“I don’t know if it is because we are far from town, but the customer service here is not friendly at all. They extort customers at will,” the source said.
The source noted that some officials of AEDC often disregard proper verification procedures before installing meters.
According to the source, the Licensed Electrical Contractors Association of Nigeria is responsible for inspecting homes for the Meter Asset Provider reading, after which customer service is supposed to certify the type of meter to be installed within a week.
However, this process is often ignored, resulting in poor service and extortion.
Disconnection
The official further revealed that it was illegal to disconnect customers who have prepaid meters, yet some communities, including Kogo 1, Barangoni, and Tunduwada in the area council, were disconnected without notice.
When residents protested, the management called in the police to disperse them.
Our correspondent witnessed a customer at the AEDC office in Bwari lamenting delays in receiving a prepaid meter.
“I applied for a meter in March. I was asked to write a letter, but now they tell me my form cannot be traced,” he said.
Widespread discontent
The complaints are not limited to Abuja. Across Nigeria, residents have faced challenges with service delivery, including overbilling under estimated billing practices.
In a recent move, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission fined all 11 DisCos a total of N9.11bn for overbilling customers.
Residents of Samaru-Kataf Community in Kaduna State have expressed frustration over the persistent power outage in the area, which has severely affected economic activities.
A resident, La’ah Dauda, narrated, “The power supply in our community has not been stable. On August 31, 2024, the incomer cable to our transformer was vandalised, resulting in a power outage that has lasted for weeks.”
The community wrote to the Area Manager of Kaduna Electricity in Kafanchan on September 6, 2024, lodging their complaint, but the authorities were yet to restore power.
“We are tired of living in darkness. Our businesses are suffering, and our lives are being disrupted. We pay fixed electricity bills of 8,000 naira and above, yet we don’t have meters. It is unfair,” he said.
The community was worried that despite the power outage, their electricity bills would continue to accumulate.
