IKEDC explains high lockdown bills

By Damilola Kushimo

The Manager of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC), Isolo Undertaking Office, Engr. Pius Oyinloye has defended the increase in electricity bills during the lockdown, saying customers consumed more power during the period.

Oyinloye, who made this known to ECHONEWS, revealed that fewer than 10 per cent of postpaid customer made payment in April while there was about 35 per cent increase in the number of prepaid customers who recharged their energy for power consumption during the month.

He said: “There was steady power supply for all during the lockdown and people consumed much energy so the bills were based on their estimated consumption.

During the period, we hardly had 45 per cent of people who paid but there was increase in the number of prepaid meter users who bought more tokens to recharge their meters.”

Meanwhile, Oyinloye said the misconception of federal government’s mere suggestion of absolving electricity debt of some citizens as a form of palliative contributed to the reluctance by customers to pay.

However, he said the company encouraged the customers to pay up their debts rather than disconnecting their power.

“We’ve been out, though, to encourage them to make payment rather than for disconnection reason and also enlighten them about the misconception they have about the government’s proposed intervention to absolve some electricity debts as a form of palliative. It was a mere suggestion that could have been made concerning telecommunications sector as well that they should give us some data as palliatives.”

He encouraged the customers to apply for prepaid meters in order to avoid having billing issues with the company.