By Ovedhe Jerry.
A non-governmental organization on power and energy under the aegis of Nigeria United Front (NUF), has called on the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to stop imposing high estimated bills on electricity consumer.
The National President, NUF, Hon. Johnbull Okoro made this call while addressing newsmen in Ughelli, stressing that, the high estimated bills being imposed on consumers by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company has been the order of the day ranging from 8,000-10,000 per flat in a month.
According to him, “It has become imperative that high estimated bills by BEDC have been BEDCs new process of extracting money from its consumers. BEDC are no longer working with meters reading even when a customer has a functional meter. The meters reading are not being captured.
“BEDC are supposed to provide meters for its customers just as the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC) provide meters to its customers free of charge to the extent that they have over 500 transformers distributed to be install to the public. Even when consumers paid for the meters, BEDC refuse to supply the meters because they are benefiting from these high estimated bills being imposed on consumers.
“This has sent so many businesses packing as a result of huge electricity bills. Even when there is no light, they still compelled consumers to pay for services not render. Also, investigation reveals that, BEDC are compelling their staffs to make about 300million naira for the company and this is the reason behind the high estimated bills being imposed on consumers. So am calling on the Honourable Minister of Power, Babatunde Raji Fashola and President Mohammadu Buhari to check mate this abnormally.”
The NUF Boss also advised BEDC, to meter all premises in order to eradicate the era of high estimated bills on consumers and also harps on the need for Federal Government to privatize the electricity just like the network providers so that customers can choose any network that will render good services to consumers.
