Electricity: FCT residents decry high estimated bills, demand prepaid metres

By Charity Nwosu
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‎Some residents of Dei-Dei, Byazhin and Kubwa Communities of Bwari Area Council, FCT have expressed frustration over persistent and excessive estimated electricity billing by distribution companies.
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‎The residents spoke in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
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‎The residents who said that bills have continued to rise in spite of irregular power supply, also decried the inability to acquire prepaid metres.
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‎They called on electricity distribution companies to provide prepaid meters to consumers to ensure transparency and accountability in billing.
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‎One of the residents in Dei-Dei, Mohammed Nuhu, said that it had become difficult for families to cope with the charges.
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‎He said: “Sometimes, we stay without power for days, yet the bills still come with huge amounts.
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‎”I believe if we have the prepaid metres, the charges will be less because it will only go high when there’s light and you use appliances.”
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He, however, said that he was still making efforts to purchase the metre for his household.
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‎Another resident, Blessing Umeh, said the estimated billing system had made it difficult for low-income earners to cope with the rising cost of living.
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‎According to her, the estimated billing system still being used in some communities is unfair to the users.
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‎This, she stated, was because there was no proper accountability from both ends.
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‎She said: “Many residents are being charged for electricity they did not consume.
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‎”Also, it is difficult for the electricity company to actually measure what a household had consumed within the stipulated period.
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‎”So there’s this and many inconsistencies, but with the metre, it is different.”
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‎She, however, urged the electricity company to improve on power supply to residents to relieve them of “unnecessary suffering.”
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‎Nnamdi Anthony, who lives in Kubwa, also urged the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to accelerate the installation of prepaid meters to communities where they were still lacking.
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‎Anthony, who is also a barber, said that this was necessary to ensure transparency and fairness among all citizens.
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‎He said: “Prepaid meters will help consumers monitor their usage and avoid exploitation through estimated bills.
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‎”It is important because apart from our household, the rising charges are negatively affecting our businesses too.
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‎“The bills are too high for small businesses like mine, I spend more on electricity and fuel, leaving little or no profit.
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‎“We hardly have light for long hours, yet the bills keep increasing every month.”
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‎He urged stakeholders in the power sector to prioritise investment in infrastructure and customer service to improve public confidence in the system.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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‎CHZ/MUK
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‎Edited by Magdalene Ukuedojor‎