Engr.Lamidi Obadaki.
By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja.
The Regional Manager,Abuja Electricity Distribution Company( AEDC), Engr. Lamidi Obadaki, says the current high electricity bill being experienced by energy consumers in kogi state is due to Improved services leading to increase in the hours of energy being supplied to them.
Obadaki made the clarification at a public function in Lokoja on Saturday amid outcry in some quarters over what some consumers described as “exorbitant electricity bills” given to them by the company every month.
Engr.Obadaki, who was reacting to question of high bill by a member of audience at the Central Executive Council Meeting of Okengwen Development Association (ODA) in Lokoja, said the company bought energy being consumed by the public and must sell the commodity to break even,if not profit.
He said:” Since I assumed duty as the Regional Manager February this year, we have been able to increase the hour of electricity supply to consumers from four to 12 hours per day.
“We did that given the realisation that, constantly supply of light will bring a lot of benefit to the people, especially a drastic reduction in criminal activities in the night.
According to him, the extra eight hours of electricity being enjoyed by the consumers is the opportunity cost of the increased bill.
He said that the company must sell the energy to recover the money invested in such business.
“As long as consumers pay their bill,as and when due, they should be rest assured of constant power supply,” he assured.
Obadaki, however,identified illegal connection, cheating in the utilisation of energy by consumers and theft of equipment of the company as some of the challenges facing the organization.
On the problem of electricity at Ageva in Okene Local Governnent Area of kogi state, the regional manager said the problem had received attention of AEDC, adding everything was being done to solve the issue within two weeks.
On prepaid meter, the regional manager explained that the equipment was for sale now but promised that any time it is meant for distribution free to consumers, the company would comply.
