…Youths to AEDC: Install prepaid meters or stop billing us
Oscarline Onwuemenyi
16 August 2017, Sweetcrude, Abuja – The Federal government has warned electricity distribution companies, popularly known as Discos, to desist from the practice of giving estimated bills to customers.
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who noted this in an interview with journalists, stressed that Discos have the obligation to provide meter to their customers before even charging them for electricity consumption.
He said, “They must provide them with meters for effective metering before charging them.”
Speaking in Kano during the 18th monthly power sector and stakeholders meeting, the minister said the federal government is putting efforts into ensuring better electricity supply in the country.
According to him, as of August 10, 2017, the generation was 6,863mwts, while the transmission rose to 6, 700mwts as against the 5,000mwts in 2016.
“The Federal Government is doing its best to ensure improvement in electricity supply. Government has embarked on serious expansion of transmission capacity with some power plants already completed, while others have reached advance stages of completion,” he added.
He also encouraged state governments and private individuals to generate their own electricity while assuring of the federal government’s support for any state willing to involve in generation and distribution of electricity.
Fashola disclosed further that there was no monopoly in the business of electricity generation and distribution and that state governments and big companies could also involve in the business.
“Large power consumers like government and big manufacturing companies can engage in power supply business. All they need to do is to secure permit from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).”
Meanwhile, the Youth Wing of Mada Development Association (MDA), has urged Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to installed prepaid meters in Akwanga or stop sending bills to customers in the area.
National president of the association, Comrade Gyuni Umaru, who stated this yesterday during the inauguration of the newly elected officials of the association in Akwanga LGA, Nasarawa State, said they would not sit back and watch private enterprises that bought public amenities exploit their people and destroyed the economic base of the area.
Umaru said, “The poor power supply and over payment in electricity bill is seriously affecting commercial activities in Akwanga and we will not fold our hands and watch things continue like this. Install the prepaid meters, even if the power has not improved the people would know that they are paying for what they consumed.”
Umaru said that AEDC had violated the directive to install prepaid meters for all electricity consumers in the country by the Federal Government.
“Despite instruction to all Discos to meter their customers, AEDC has refused to meter the entire people in Nasarawa, thereby shortchanging our people by collecting outrageous bills.
“We will petition the headquarters of AEDC to either meter our people before the end of 2017 or face protest by the youths because we will resist this exploitation,” Umaru added.
Earlier, the Paramount ruler of Mada chiefdom, the Chun Mada Samson Gamu-Yare, advised the youths to shun social vices and engage in profitable ventures.
The royal father promised to support whatever programme the youths would pursue to better the living conditions of people in the area.