CDC appeals to IE to review estimated bills, increase power supply
By Edith Igbokwe
The Community Development Committee (CDC) of Oshodi-Isolo LGA has appealed to the management of Ikeja Electric (IE) to review its electricity bills downward to meet the current purchasing power of the people.
It also urged the company to provide prepaid meters for them and increase the power supply into the community.
To formalise their request, the three zones (Oshodi, Mafoluku and Shogunle) in the local government area have jointly written to the company through their solicitor, Dapo Oladimeji, to urgently address the issues.
According to a member of the CDC sttanding Committee on electricity issues, Mr. Michael Fasinu, the complaints were tabled before the company’s management at Alausa, Ikeja on September 14, 2020, saying the committee is still waiting for response.
Fasinu explained that despite being placed below 12 hours electricity supply per day, the company keeps increasing its bills which, together with other related issues, prompted them to collective lodge the complain to the company.
The letter read in part: “As an attorney and a minister in the temple of Justice, it is our primary duty to ensure that Justice is manifestly done in resolving this sensitive matter and the probable avenue for the endorsement of all parties meeting where the issue can be properly addressed.
“It should further be noted that there has been continual discourse on this sensitive matter in the recent times particularly, the issue of increased electricity tariffs and supply of prepaid meters to customers which undoubtedly is considered a right under Nigeria’s law.
“It has been mentioned at the several town hall meetings organised by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission ( NERC) that all customers must be provided with prepaid meters whilst all in – metered customers should be issued with electricity bills strictly based on NERC’s estimated billing methodology. Our client’s community has not been fully provided with prepaid meters, the community is experiencing continual power outage and crazy estimated billing from IKEDC.
“Our instruction in a very clear term is that IKEDC should desist from using the previous bills served on the community for disconnection until amicable resolution of the subsisting matter. Should there be any reason for disconnection at all, it should be based on the current bills while they find a way out of the incessant power outage and unwarranted estimated bills.”
It was stated that the demand was made in good faith to preserve the status quo and the customer’s right to contest any electricity bill.
Meanwhile, the Head of Corporate Communications, Ikeja Electric, Felix Ofulue, said the complaints tabled have been forwarded to the appropriate channels to investigate and validate before a proper response can be given.
“However, it important to clarify the misconception about the provision of meters. Under the existing Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme, the onus is on the customer to apply for meter through map.ikejaelectric.com.
“After a successful application, a survey will be carried out on the premises to determine metering requirements and they will be given a payment advice. Once payment is made, the meter will be installed in 10 days.
“So, I want to encourage these communities to apply for meters through this scheme as this will greatly ease the challenges of estimated billing.”
