Rabiu Omaku
The Acting Regional Manager of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Mr. Christ Chime has read riot act to staff of the company extorting and over charging consumers.
Chime said AEDC staff involved in the unwholesome act would face the temerity of their actions, saying the distributing company has zero tolerance to corruption.
Chime gave the disclosure during an interactive meeting organized by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and consumers held at the Lafia Square, Lafia.
The Nasarawa regional Manager opined that stringent measures to penalized staff with questionable character is on cause, calling on consumers with all forms of complaints to channeled it to the appropriate authorities for further actions.
He promised to goes tough on staff of AEDC billing without light to turn a new leaf before the law caught on them, appealing to consumers to be patients with the epileptic power supply experience in the state.
He identified the major quagmire to the blackout in the state capital and surrounding Local Governments to low supply from Akwanga, stating that Nasarawa State is still feeding from the corner not directly from the national grid.
“Work is ongoing and by the time the ongoing project of connecting Lafia to the 330,000KVA the state power supply would improve”,
Mr. Christ Chime said a total of 1,500 prepaid Meters are ready for distribution to consumers in Lafia, the state capital, adding that approval has been secured.
He warned on consumers of energy to shun vending and by-passing meters, he maintained that the law would prosecute energy theft, Mr. Chime revealed that a lot of such meter by-pass cases are rampant in Keffi region.
Energy consumers in the state decried total blackout, estimated billing system and contributions by consumers to replaced AEDC facilities destroyed by vandals such as armour cables and transformers.
Over 40 consumers reacted excluding written complaints during the interaction called on the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to revoke the contract of AEDC over what they refer to effective and inefficient power supply.
The Commissioner consumer Affairs, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Moses Arigu explained that the meeting would yeild fruitful results as NERC is expecting a total improvement in more hours of supply in the state.
He said consumers would be protected from high rate of bills as well to ensure that stable and quality light is provided to the people.
Moses Arigu asserted that a robust mechanism to tackle epileptic power experience in the state by establishing a forum body in Nasarawa State.
“The forum body would ensure orderliness in the distribution of energy as well access to electricity to all Nigerians”.
