Residents of Maiduguri, Borno state capital, are irked by the recent uninterrupted electricity
supply which has caused astronomical increase in charges. Yola Electricity Distribution
waste and digging holes in their pockets. The constant power supply, according to the residents,
lives in Bolori Layout, appealed to the YEDC to reduce supply of electricity. “YEDC should go
had caused what they described as “outrageous billings.’’ Mr. Ibrahim Suleiman, a resident who
many consumers cannot use electricity during working hours. “I work from 7 p.m. to 4 p.m. So I
recently being enjoyed. Suleiman described the stable power supply as a “wastage” because
you will be billed to pay for it. I think this is not fair, “he said. Residents told newsmen on
do not need any electricity until I get home. But in this case, whether you consume power or not,
Tuesday that the incurring high bills was worrisome. They said that it was not in the interest of
Mr Easter Chukwuma, one of the consumers, described the new billing adopted by the power
the masses, because it has hindered economic activities and social life of the people. They also
alleged that YEDC jacked up their electricity bills by over 100 per cent for commercial and
of my time in my shop. I only use the electricity at night at home. “I have a prepaid metre in the
residential areas sequel to appreciable improvement in power supply in the metropolis.
distribution companies as frustrating and lamentable. “My bill indicated that I used 605 units in
November and they charged N14, 000 as against N6, 500 for September where I used the same
shop and I don’t spend more than N2, 000 in a whole month. “So how come I am not staying at
units. “They are charging me for what I did not consume because during the day, I spend most
the receiving end especially those without prepaid metres, noting that the billing process was
home and i am being asked to pay N14, 000. “I am here in their office, demanding an
explanation,” she said. Also speaking, Mrs Fatima Musa, a widow, said: “I was given a bill of N15,
000 monthly instead of the N5,000 I used to get monthly. “I strongly disagree with this
“opaque and lacks transparency.” Malam Abdullahi Bako, who lives in Gwange, said “how can
outrageous charges given without any explanation.” She said that electricity consumers were at
supplies electricity 24 hours. He said that before the commissioning of the new line, the
YEDC be bringing between N9, 000 and N15, 000 to a room apartment in a month?” “We are
being forced to pay for electricity we never consumed; this is extortion, we demand for
transparency in the billing methodology,” Bako said. Responding, Alhaji Usman Wakta, the YEDC
Maiduguri Business Manager, said the company does not bill its customers arbitrarily. “These
now have to spend N15, 000 or N20, 000 because of their energy usage. “One thing we notice
complaints may be as a result of the commissioning of the 330kV transmission line which now
stations relied on the 132KV controlled from Biu, which can only supply for a period of ten to
22 hours in a day which simply implies that the consumption of energy by residents in the state
twelve hours per day. “On the average, we now supply electricity in the town for a minimum of
have multiplied or even tripled itself. “We took a simple study from our prepaid metres users
.........
and we found out that the people that usually came to buy unit of N2000 or N3000 in a month
about the consumers is that they waste energy. People have this habit of leaving their lights on
bulbs on in the afternoon. So the more you load you use the more energy you consume. On the
even in the afternoon. “Go to some super markets or filling stations, you will see more than 200
allegation of exorbitant billing of consumers without meter, Wakta said : ”We go to people’s
GUYS, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
home to do load assessment based on the gadgets they have in the house and bill them
accordingly.“
FACEBOOK COMMENTS
