ELECTRICITY CONSUMERS IN EBONYI STATE CRY OUT AGAINST ALLEGED HIGH ESTIMATED BILLINGS

High billings has continued to be a source of worry to many Electricity Consumers in Ebonyi state. To this end, Consumers in the State have called on the Federal Government to revisit its power privatization policy to check the exploitation of Nigerians by Power Distribution Companies.

They made their feelings known while reacting to the challenges of over – estimated billings by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, Abakaliki Business Office. Investigations reveal that few Electricity Consumers in the State have prepaid meters while the rest go through the pains of settling over – estimated billings every month even when the energy supplied is not commensurable.

A visit to Enugu Electricity Distribution Company,  in Abakaliki shows that Consumers  are beginning to lose their patience over the matter, as they demand answers from the Customers Care Unit. One of the Consumers, Mr. Benjamin Nwuba explained that arbitrary increase of electricity bill had worsened  the economic  challenges facing residents of the State and called on the government  to look into  the matter.

‘’We were paying two thousand or three thousand something before, but look at the one they brought, one meter they gave me ₦10,454.00.’’

Another Consumer, Mr. Sunday Mbam described estimated billings as an extortion mechanism pointing out that his bill was increased from two thousand naira to twenty four thousand naira in a space of three months.

‘’They don’t read the meter, they always give us estimated bills. It’s appalling, but we are pleading if they don’t want us to use light, they should come and carry their meter.’’

Two other consumers urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to rise up to the challenge as high electricity billing constituted a threat to the economic recovery  plan of the Federal Government.

‘’EEDC should be called to order.’’

‘’When you have school fees, children and other things to carter for in this economy, and you are paying only bill ₦24,000.00, that is too much.’’

The Communication Manager of EEDC, Mr. Chinedu Ilo said that the issue of over billing was receiving attention.

 AMECHI ODO