04 March 2013, Lagos – Electricity consumers are owing the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, N12 billion, according to Chris Akamnonu, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, the PHCN Ikeja Zone.
Akamnonu, who disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos, urged the debtors to settle their bills to enable the organisation serve them better and avoid unpleasant consequences of refusing to pay debt.
He threatened to sanction customers by-passing pre-paid metres within the area.
Akamnonu said the warning became necessary following discovery of some sharp practises associated with the installation of pre-paid metres in the area.
He said plans were on-going in the unit to fish out consumers who had by-passed the pre-paid metres, adding that consumers found guilty of the offence will be made to face the law.
“We will not hesitate to sanction and prosecute anybody involved in such act. Some customers are in the habit of by-passing pre-paid metres to avoid paying their bills,” he said.
The CEO also commended consumers in the zone for their support in the protection of PHCN installations in the area.
“As I talk to you about 85,026 pre-paid metres were installed from November 2010 to December 2013,” he said.
Akamnonu, however, said the zone recorded about 480 cases of vandalised pre-paid metres within the period under review, adding that the vandals have been brought to book.
He urged consumers to remain steadfast in the protection of power installations, saying PHCN is doing its best to ensure improved power supply to the zone.
