From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan
Nigerians have been voicing their frustration over the high electricity bills they are receiving from power distribution companies (DisCos), alleging that the companies are not providing meters, which allows them to charge post-paid users exorbitantly.
To address these concerns, Engr. Ademola Agoro, the Chairman/MD of Protogy Global Services and the Vice President of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), provided insights into the issue.
In a telephone conversation with Daily Sun reporter on Friday, Agoro who is also one of the Nigeria’s manufacturers of electricity meters stated that the consumer challenges have been addressed in a law governing the distribution of electricity by DisCos. He categorized the electricity supply issues into three groups: those using prepaid meters, those using postpaid meters, and those without meters at all.
For consumers with prepaid meters, Agoro advised them to keep a record of the daily hours of power consumption provided by their DisCo. If the electricity supply falls below the daily targeted supply, consumers have the right to write to the DisCo and demand acknowledgment of the service shortage.
Regarding consumers without meters, Agoro said they should request the specified rate from the DisCo. For those with prepaid meters, he advised them to ensure that the credit they have paid for is accurately captured before purchasing another prepaid voucher, as DisCos are required to refund the excess charges.
Agoro emphasized that consumers must be vigilant and persistent in demanding that DisCos follow the law. He emphasized that consumers should not tire of complaining when they are being charged more than they should.
He said: “This issue of crazy bill by electricity providers can be grouped into three categories. One, people using prepaid meters, two, people using postpaid meters and people who don’t have meters at all.
“In all these categories, NERC has categorized electricity supply into band A, B, C and D. Band A consumers gets electricity within 20 – 24 hours daily. It is therefore behoves of consumers to keep records of daily hours of power consumption that a particular DisCos supply.
“If electricity supply is below daily targeted supply, consumer has a right to write DisCos to make them know they haven’t provided the service and you make sure they acknowledge it.
“In case you don’t have a meter at all, consumer should ask for specified rate and for consumers that have prepaid meters, make sure this is captured before you buy another prepaid voucher because they must give you back the credit they have charged at a higher rate.
“This issue is about customer to be alive to his or her responsibility and consumers must insist that DisCos follow the law and they must not be tired of complaining when DisCos are charging what they are not supposed to charge”, Agoro stated.