Some communities in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State yesterday urged Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) to honour the agreement reached with the company last July.
Their demand followed the House of Representatives’ passage of Electricity Power Reform Act (Amendment) Bill 2018, prohibiting and criminalising estimated billing.
The lawmakers proposed one-year jail term and a fine of N1million for defaulting DisCo.
Under the proposed law, electricity distribution companies are to give prepaid meters to applicants within 30 days. It has to go to the Senate for concurrence before being sent to the President for assent.
If signed, the law will bar a Disco from disconnecting a consumer after the 30-day period within which a meter should be installed.
Residents of Igbehin-Adun, Ilasamaja, Papa-Ajao, Oduduwa, Ladipo, Megbon, among others yesterday protested the re-introduction of estimated billings.
They marched on the streets carrying placards to sensitise others.
The residents said they are ready to go for months without electricity supply from EKEDC to press home their demands.
They said EKEDC has reduced the hours of electricity to three hours a day.
“Despite having lesser hours of electricity, EKEDC has started disconnecting our supply for not paying the outrageous bills. This is contrary to our agreement last July,” Imam Maruf Okusanya told The Nation.
“We do not want estimated billings again. They brought bills of N15,000, N20,000 among others, whereas those who use prepaid meters spend less than N4,000 monthly and we are using the same electricity. It is unacceptable. EKEDC continues to promise prepaid meters without fulfilling its promise. That’s why we said we will be paying N4,000 monthly until they supply the meters,” he added.
The General Secretary of Igbehin Community Development Association, Mr Kayode Ogunbola, described the estimated billing as unacceptable to the community.
He said: “Many of our members are saying that what they are paying for electricity is more than house rent. This is our concern. We want to live as normal human beings and not as second-class citizens. What we want is prepaid meter. Ikeja Electric has been doing well to meter its customers. What stops EKEDC from doing same? Instead, they are using police to harass our members. We urge the state and federal governments to call EKEDC to order.”
Some communities in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State yesterday urged Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) to honour the agreement reached with the company last July.
Their demand followed the House of Representatives’ passage of Electricity Power Reform Act (Amendment) Bill 2018, prohibiting and criminalising estimated billing.
The lawmakers proposed one-year jail term and a fine of N1million for defaulting DisCo.
Under the proposed law, electricity distribution companies are to give prepaid meters to applicants within 30 days. It has to go to the Senate for concurrence before being sent to the President for assent.
If signed, the law will bar a Disco from disconnecting a consumer after the 30-day period within which a meter should be installed.
Residents of Igbehin-Adun, Ilasamaja, Papa-Ajao, Oduduwa, Ladipo, Megbon, among others yesterday protested the re-introduction of estimated billings.
They marched on the streets carrying placards to sensitise others.
The residents said they are ready to go for months without electricity supply from EKEDC to press home their demands.
They said EKEDC has reduced the hours of electricity to three hours a day.
“Despite having lesser hours of electricity, EKEDC has started disconnecting our supply for not paying the outrageous bills. This is contrary to our agreement last July,” Imam Maruf Okusanya told The Nation.
“We do not want estimated billings again. They brought bills of N15,000, N20,000 among others, whereas those who use prepaid meters spend less than N4,000 monthly and we are using the same electricity. It is unacceptable. EKEDC continues to promise prepaid meters without fulfilling its promise. That’s why we said we will be paying N4,000 monthly until they supply the meters,” he added.
The General Secretary of Igbehin Community Development Association, Mr Kayode Ogunbola, described the estimated billing as unacceptable to the community.
He said: “Many of our members are saying that what they are paying for electricity is more than house rent. This is our concern. We want to live as normal human beings and not as second-class citizens. What we want is prepaid meter. Ikeja Electric has been doing well to meter its customers. What stops EKEDC from doing same? Instead, they are using police to harass our members. We urge the state and federal governments to call EKEDC to order.”
