By correspondent in Minna.
Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) Niger Region, says electricity consumers in the area must pay their bills promptly to enable the company improve energy supply to serve them better.
Mr Adamu Mohammed, Public Relations Officer of AEDC, Niger region, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Friday,
The region comprised Minna, Bosso, Bida and Kontagora.
“We have been using the media to sensitise the public on why they must pay their electricity bills promptly, to enable us improve energy supply and serve them better.
“The AEDC purchases the energy it distributes to consumers in Niger region at the rate of₦1.5 billion per month.
“Right now power supply has improved, but our average collection per month remains at ₦400 million,” he said.
Mohammed said that it was a bad signal for the company as no business would survive under the current condition.
He said that there were challenges in the energy value chain, starting from generation, transmission and distribution.
The spokesman said that the company was doing everything possible to ensure improved power supply in the area.
Mohammed said that in 2022, the company spent over ₦500 million to change and rehabilitate some equipment to improve power supply.
He stressed the need for electricity consumers to purchase the pre-paid metres, to prevent over billing or under-billing against the company.
“The direct billing (estimated billing) is always characterised with over-billing or under-billing, resulting in face-off between the customers and the company.
“Anywhere we are dealing with the customers directly, it is either the customer is cheating the company or the company is cheating the customer,” he said.
Mohammed said that there was an ongoing Metre Access Provider (MAP) exercise, to ensure that electricity consumers purchase their pre-paid metres and reimbursed through Energy Token by the AEDC.
“Right now the AEDC has pre-paid metres available for sale now in Niger region, so we want customers to come and buy their metres.
“The Federal Government has given the AEDC 10 years to reimburse electricity consumers who purchased their pre-paid metres.
“The company has started paying back customers who purchased their own pre-paid metres through Energy Token,” he said.
He advised the public to report any electricity fault or complaint to any AEDC office near them for better service delivery.
Mohammed called on the public to help the company to secure electricity equipment near them, by reporting vandals to the security agencies or any AEDC office near them.
Alhaji Haruna Aliyu, a resident of Minna blamed the delay in the payment of bills by consumers on the current economic situation in the country.
He said that power supply in the area had improved compared with some months back. (NAN)
