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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Jos Electricity Distribution (JED) Plc has urged customers to provide feedback, report energy theft and protect power infrastructure to improve electricity services across Benue State.
The State Operations Officer, JED Plc, Mr Ojochide Agbata, made this call at the company’s Customer Consultative Forum/Town Hall Meeting which held in Makurdi on Thursday. The meeting was themed ” The Extra Mile.”
Agbata said the interaction was aimed at bringing the company closer to its customers and obtaining feedback that would strengthen service delivery.
He said although customer satisfaction could not be absolute, the company was doing its best within available resources to meet customers’ needs.
According to him, customers also have responsibilities, particularly in paying their bills and reporting illegal activities, including energy theft and vandalism, within their communities.
“We first of all gave them the supply we connected to them. So, them giving us back is very difficult in terms of payment and cooperation in areas of reporting illegal activities,” he said.
Agbata said JED was implementing its metering programme in phases, beginning with Band A customers before moving to Band B.
He noted that while some customers complained about not receiving meters, some communities had resisted the installation of the meters.
The state operations officer said JED had engaged security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to address situations where customers rejected meters.
Also speaking, Mrs Saratu Dauda, Head, Corporate Communication, JED Plc, said the forum was the grand finale of the company’s Customer Service Week activities.
Dauda said the company prioritised customer satisfaction and feedback because of the socio-economic importance of electricity to the communities it served.
She said complaints beyond the capacity of the state operating office were escalated to the company’s headquarters in Jos for resolution.
According to her, JED had also introduced community-level engagement mechanisms to address complaints depending on their nature and dynamics.
Dauda said customer complaints had reduced significantly due to measures taken by the company to improve customers’ electricity experience.
She urged customers to use JED’s social media platforms and email channels to lodge complaints and receive feedback.
She said JED had recently invested significantly in expanding and upgrading its network to meet the needs of a growing population and changing economy.
Dauda said the company would continue to collaborate with stakeholders at the national and power-sector levels to improve electricity supply and customer satisfaction.
Earlier, the Och’Idoma, Ogabaidu Dr John Odogbo, commended JED for organizing the forum and listening to customers, saying electricity was essential to economic growth, healthcare and security, particularly in Benue South.
The Och’Idoma who was represented by one of his Chiefs, HRH Emmanuel Okochi, appealed to JED to improve electricity supply to Zone C, noting that prolonged outages, low voltage and load shedding were affecting businesses and other activities in the area.
The traditional ruler also called on residents to pay for electricity consumed, shun energy theft and protect JED infrastructure from vandalism.
He said the Och’Idoma had directed ward and clan heads as well as youth leaders across Idoma land to ensure that anyone caught vandalising JED property was handed over to security agencies.
Okochi urged JED to establish a direct liaison desk with the Och’Idoma’s Palace to facilitate prompt resolution of complaints from Idoma land.
He also proposed the establishment of Community Electricity Committees by traditional rulers to work with JED field officers.
“Give us light, and we will give you peace, payment and protection,” Okochi said.
Also speaking, Mr Ihuman Alphonsis, Senior Deputy Director, Works and Maintenance Unit, Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo (FUTSHO), urged JED to improve its electricity vending system.
Alphonsis said customers sometimes experienced difficulties purchasing electricity units through their smartphones, forcing them to visit JED offices for assistance.
He also called for improved electricity supply to his community, noting that prolonged outages affected laboratories, ICT facilities and administrative operations at the institution.
He said improved electricity supply was essential for effective healthcare, teaching and other activities at the institution.
