By Onozure Dania

lagos—The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has ordered Eko Electricity Distribution Company, EKEDC, to resolve the complaints of demand for pre-paid meters and outrageous bills made by some residents of Festac Town, Lagos.

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Residents of A Close, 312 Road, Festac Town, Lagos, had petitioned EKEDC and also copied NERC, Consumer Rights Project, CPC and Minister of Power, Works and Housing, in which they demanded immediate provision of pre-paid meters to save them from further exploitation by EKEDC with ridiculous and outrageous bills.

The residents in the petition said that EKEDC was billing a 2-bedroom flat between N15,000 and N20,000 monthly and harassed them with disconnection, which most times are ploy to collect bribe from them, whereas the power supply are most times not regular.

NERC, while directing EKEDC to attend to the complaint, said; “Please find forwarded a complaint from a customer within your distribution  network and kindly look into the issues raised by the customer with a view to resolving them.

“Also revert to the Commission with an update on actions taken to resolve the complaint on or before August 11, 2017.”

The residents are demanding in the complaint, “That all the residents be provided with pre-paid meters henceforth; That your unbearable bills since January 2017 shall be paid by the residents at N3,000 per month, as an average resident in the same locality with pre-paid meter spends about N1500 per month; and provide us with result of “Operation show your electrical appliances” carried out on November 14, 2015, to enable us know how you came about previous bills estimates.”

They added that “Sequel to the mass disconnection of the entire “A” Close, 312 Road, Festac Town, Lagos, on account of the residents demand for Pre-Paid meters on July 26, 2017 by your officials, we write to demand that each flat be provided with a pre-paid meter henceforth.’’