Customers protest against AEDC over billing, pre-paid metres

Dozens of angry protesters thronged the Ado Area Office of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) over dilapidated transformers, overbilling and sales of free pre-paid metres.

Hundreds of the protesters including organized women groups, youth leaders, landlords as well as consumers had thronged the area office demanding justice, fair deals in the billing system, replacement of dilapidated transformers and indeed, free distribution of the World Bank-sponsored Pre-Paid metres to electricity consumers.

Eyewitness account report that while the elders of the Angwan Doka community led by Comrade Eze Uzoechi (Hilltop Cresence,), Engr Kingsley Mudjere(Central) and Engr. Austin Uwaoma, chairman, the electricity committee of the community respectively presented multiple complaints to the AEDC Officials, the women and youths gave an ultimatum.

Engr. Uwaoma had explained that there was no justification for overcharging consumers’ for electricity bills they don’t even see.

He revealed how consumers were being charged thirty to N32,000 monthly bills each even when the community’s old transformer wasn’t working for nearly a year.

Other speakers tendered bills of continuous billing even when they individually asked AEDC to halt their billing.

With the issue of transformers and Overbilling over, the youths and women insisted on stoppage of selling Pre-Paid Metres the World Bank freely sponsored to reduce poverty amongst the poor people.

The angry protesters cursed the AEDC, Nasarawa state chapter for selling what was meant for free to the masses.

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Forefront’s investigation revealed that a Pre-Paid Metre is being sold at N48 per unit in Nasarawa state while the same metre was distributed free to richer neighbouring Federal Capital Territory, FCT free of charge.

Attempt to corner the Area Manager of AEDC, Ado, Engr. E Olotu failed, as he excused himself for another meeting immediately after quelling off the protest.

He however assured the protesters of a transformer, a systematic distribution of what he described as “promotional pre-paid metres” to identify consumers.

He said, “efforts are ongoing at the regional office Abuja to get a replacement for the damaged transformer while an organized system is in place to ensure that the available Pre-Paid Metres get to our customers”.

On the issue of Overbilling, Engr Olotu said he inherited the matter but promised to take it over with the AEDC authority for redress.