Residents of Maiduguri and its environs have lamented 110 percent increment of the electricity billings by the Yola Electricity Distribution Company, (YEDC) despite federal government directives.
Some of the consumers who spoke with BusinessDay in Maiduguri on Monday expressed their frustration and described the bills as outrageous and ridiculously.
One such consumer Chiroma Audu said YEDC deliberately exploiting them even though the government has put on hold the new billings, he wanted the government to punish them for floating the orders.
He noted that footing his electricity bills has become a major challenge since relocating to the new house at the NTA housing estate area of Maiduguri.
“We have applied for prepaid meters for more than two years but unfortunately they refused to give us but we were denied. We were paying #5,000 before now, It was later increased to 8,000 sometimes earlier this year.
“It was a rude shocking to me when they brought last month bill a week ago, I was given billed of #17,653. This is ridiculous it was worse than SARS who go about to kill innocents people. We want the government to take decisive decisions against this daylight robbers.” Chiroma said.
Read Also: REA seeks review of power reform Act for sustainable funding of rural electrification
Resident Abdulmumin Kolo Gulani noted that the outrageous billing is annoyed.”It’s quite unfortunate even though the Federal Government directive, YEDC brought new hike electricity tariff to households in Maiduguri and its environs.
“I was informed by my neighbour that some of their staff have brought a new electricity bill which triple the old bill.
“The most annoying part of the story is that; the electricity is no longer stable like how it’s before. It’s high time for this government to wake up and consider the hardships people are experiencing.” Gulani protested.
Most of the houses in Maiduguri and its environs do not have prepaid meters so electricity consumption is charged by estimated billing. The system leaves consumers at the mercy of YEDC officials who, they said, determine how much they pay every month by inscrutable whim.
Umaru Mai Gana frowned that he no longer cares if he was disconnected from the national grid due to what he described as daylight robber, “I won’t pay any bill again until this matter is resolved,” he said. The resolution he seeks is that he be taken off the old billing system and placed on prepaid metering.
“Power supply here is terrible. So some months when they bring the bill you wonder what you are paying for because you can count the number of times they supplied light to us. Even when there is light, you don’t enjoy it because the current is always low.
“I am sick and tired of this nonsense. I spend between N6000-N7000 monthly just to fuel my generator, yet will bill you for what you did not consume.”Ali said.
Nuns Bitrus who lived at old GRA Maiduguri accused YEDC of exploiting and added more salt injuries of the people who have already stressed.
“The fact is that this issue of estimated billing by YEDC or PHCN is very unfair because we are not aware of how they arrive at the final amount they will charge us at the end of the month. They need to be showing an analysis of what was consumed and the unit consumed so I know.” Mai Gana lamented.
When contacted by the Yerwa Business Unit in Maiduguri one of the top staff who doesn’t want his mention confirmed the development claimed it was beyond their control however pleaded with the customers to bear with YEDC as they are striving to serve them better.
Business Day gathered that for instance some residents last month they estimated and gave bills of #6,000 and #8,000 but only for the new bills of this month to show that in less than three weeks they have consumed a range of #17600 to #19.600 naira only.
