Pre-paid meter: Eko DisCo warns customers against patronising unauthorised vendors
Oredola Adeola
Eko Electricity Distribution Company(EKEDC)has warned customers and representatives of various community Development Associations(CDAs) within its coverage network against patronising unauthorised vendors who sells prepaid meters.
Dr. Tinuade Sanda, MD/CEO, made this known during the 3-day customer engagement forum organised by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for electricity consumers in Lagos at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Festac between May 11 and May 13, 2022.
Dr Sanda during her presentation at the forum urged the customers to report any case of such unscrupulous elements to the Company’s whistle-blowing channels.
The EKEDC MD/CEO assured the customers that the Company has already embarked on many projects to improve power supply and prompt resolutions to complaints, and specifically
She further encouraged the electricity customers under EKEDC’s network to embrace the metering scheme (MAP) to put the issue of estimated billing to rest.
Sanda advised them against patronising unauthorised entities to get meters, adding that the prepaid meters through the Meter Asset Providers(MAP) scheme are available purchase across all its offices.
Godwin Idemudia, Eko DisCo’s spokesperson, on his part reiterated that customers should desist from illegal activities such as meter bypass, meter tampering, vandalism, and assault of staff, which do not only affect the DisCo but the entire power industry.
According to him, NERC has approved penalties for these criminal offences and EKEDC will ensure that offenders face the wrath of the law for any of these crimes. ‘Every customer has a responsibility of protecting the industry,’ he added.
Aisha Mahmud, NERC, National ERC Commissioner for Consumer Engagement, in her remark at the customer engagement forum, explained that the exercise is part of the nationwide engagement by the Commission to enlighten the public about electricity consumers’ rights and obligations.
She revealed that the forum is meant to create more awareness about NERC to customers across the networks of all the DisCos whilst providing avenue for Discos to engage customers and representatives of various CDAs within their coverage network for them to air their complaints and make enquiries as well as having opportunity for on the spot issues resolution.
The NERC Commissioner of Consumer Engagement highlighted that in addition to enlightening the customers about their rights and obligations, the Commission has also organised the forum to address issues such as estimated billing (capping order), metering, electricity tariffs, and investment plan by the DisCo. ‘The Regulator has made several efforts to resolve these issues, but they persist, and that is why we are here with Eko DisCo to engage the customers,’ she said.
The EKEDC MD/CEO, led the company’s management team including Chief Commercial Officer, Mrs. Rekhiat Mommoh; Chief Customer Experience Officer, Mrs. Catherine Ezeafulukwe, and other members of the management team to the NERC’s forum.
