Residents across Lagos have bemoaned the current high electricity tariff plans, which they claim does not correspond with the poor electricity supply in the state.
It can be recalled that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), in a bid to lessen the tariff burden faced by consumers, had recently repealed the estimated billing methodology regulation as the basis for computing the consumption of unmetered consumers. It also issued a deadline of April 30, 2020 for proper identification and metering of high-energy users.
However, consumers feel that the problem still lingers.
According to Mr. Sodiq Rammon of the Ojodu Berger area of the state, his tariff bill spiked from N13,000 as at December 2019, to N18,000 in January, 2020, and from N22,000 in March, 2020 and N32,000 in April, 2020.
He lamented that: “In April 2020, the Ikeja Distribution Company (IKEDC) gave us an estimated bill of N32,000. That was when there was a lockdown. We cried and wailed, the following month (May) they brought N35,000 and yet more cries and wailing. This month, the bill for June consumption rose to N48,000. This is what these Discos are doing to us. Is it not better they disconnect our light permanently? I thought they said the tariff increase has been put on hold?
“I have never believed in the tariff, because whether there is tariff increase or not, as long as you are on estimated billing without prepaid meter, they would bring to you outrageous bills monthly when there’s absolutely no commensurate supply.”
Another resident, based in the Magodo area of the state, Mrs. Florence, residents sometimes purchase electricity poles, cables and transformers, to solve their electricity problems.
She complained that, “Then the electricity distribution companies will, without taking the meter reading, send outrageous estimated bills to you for power never consumed. And if you dare raise a question against this action, they will come and remove the cable you bought with your money as their property.
“You then will be charged what they call a ‘reconnection fee’ to get your cable fixed back. And you will have to bribe their personnel to replace a melted fuse or you will remain perpetually in darkness and still pay the bill at the end of the month.
“The most heinous part of their corporate crimes against the people is the revenue target they set for their personnel every month.”
Corroborating this reality, another resident in the Ijesha area of Lagos, Mr. Nwanne, decried the dilapidated state of the electricity supply facilities in his area.
He said, “In a month, it could be faulty four times; and most times, it takes five days to fix it. We suspect that the feeder is overloaded and the reason is not farfetched. Lately, the area is witnessing urban renewal and this has caused an upsurge in population.
“Many of the bungalows in the axis were sold, and the new owners are building duplexes and storey buildings. Meanwhile, in some of the bungalows, the owners don’t even have televisions and they consume minimal electricity, but with the new occupants of the duplexes and storey buildings, there is a lot of electricity consumption. So, the feeder is overloaded and weak.”
Another resident, in the Ijaniki area of the state Mr. Kehinde Soaga, complained that his house suffers from excessive electricity tariff charges.
He alleged that officials of the Eko Distribution Company often extorted money from the occupants.
“The issue has been lingering, as they have continuously extorted money from my family. I call on the Federal Government to stop this nightmare called DISCOs in Nigeria. They are not only incompetent; they do not have the capacity to effectively provide electricity to Nigerians; it is very evident. The government should allow states and local governments to oversee and manage power for their people,” he said.
However, the spokesman for Ikeja Electric, Mr. Felix Ofolue, insisted that the Ikeja Distribution company has improved on electricity supply across its network and provides an average of 16 hours of daily electricity supply to its consumers.
He argued that the increase in tariff charges is due to the increase in electricity supply.
Similarly, the spokesperson for the Eko Distribution Company, Mr. Godwin Idemudia, urged its consumers to always lodge its complaints at their office.
He also said that: “The energy supply since the beginning of the year has been on the increase on a monthly basis so that should reflect on the bills.”
He added that “The only sure way of ruling out estimation is by metering, and we are encouraging our customers to take advantage of MAP.”
