BENIN CITY- Electricity Consumers in Edo State has urged the Benin electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and other DISCOs in the country to put an end to estimated billings, non metering, as well as commencement of complete provision of meters to consumers in country.
The electricity consumers who lamented at the activities of Discos in the country, described their methods of estimated billings, as exploitative and unscrupulous.
According to stakeholders who sighted the high level of dissafection between DISCOs and consumers as a result of poor metering, thereby called on the various distribution companies in the country to effectively commenced the provision of meters to consumers nationwide.
Speaking at a radio town hall meeting organised by the Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN), in support of the MacArthur foundation in Benin City yesterday, the Assistant Program Manager, SDN, Olumide Oyebamiji said after series of surveys by the organisation, it was discovered that metering of consumers, is the only effective solution to the grievances between DISCOs and members of the public.
Oyebamiji who said the various distribution companies in the country has also made complaints on issues ranging from power theft and vandalism of properties, noted that until the DISCOs fully commenced the provision of meters to consumers, a long lasting solution wouldn’t be met.
“The DISCOs has said the issues of corruption, vandalism and power theft are also part of problems they are facing. But the major solution is to get everybody a meter, then we can work out the issues of vandalism and power theft”, he stressed.
Other Stakeholders who lamented the inadequate supply of meters include the Head, Legal Services, Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Tam Tamunokonbia said the DISCOs should look for an alternative, towards a transparent billing system of consumer in the country.
He said Consumers should not be made to pay for the challenges affecting the power sector, adding that the non metering of members of the public has led to over 60% of complaints made by consumers to the CPC.
“Nigerians are not provided with meters, and they are made to pay more than they consume, which is unscrupulous and exploitative. Consumer should only be billed on verifiable consumption”, he added.
