Some residents of Ebute Metta in Lagos State, on Sunday protested against the outrageous estimated billing system by the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC).
It was gathered that the residents trooped out on Apapa Road and moved to Oyingbo at about 4:00 p.m. to show their discontent with the billing by the company.
Led by the Chairman, Ebute-Metta West A chapter of Eko Distribution Customer Forum, Mr Dapo Williams, they alleged that the company was engaging in illegality within the area.
Williams, who is also a committee member for the Defence of Human Rights, said that EKEDC was obliged to give the residents a transparent billing.
“The electricity company has failed woefully in its obligations.
“EKEDC lacks transparency in its billing. All we are asking the service provider to do, is to be legitimate in dealing with their customers and be transparent in their billings.
“I have not used up to N4,000 since the prepaid metre was installed in my house in July 2021, yet EKEDC brings a N50,000 monthly bill to every household that does not have prepaid metres,” he fumed.
According to the chairman, the forum is striving to ensure that residents who do not have pre-paid meters, but receive outrageous bills at the end of the month get lower bills.
“The residents get the outrageous bills after EKEDC brings light for just four days in a month.
“As a human rights fighter, we are saying no to the arbitrary bills of Eko Disco. They always harass us.
“We had meetings with EKEDC on several occasions, wrote to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and even went to court but all to no avail.
“They are extorting us unlawfully. We want justice,” he said.