In order to do away with estimated billing, Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has asked its unmetered consumers to register for prepaid meters.
This request was made yesterday in Lagos during a Customers’ Engagement event held in the Ijora Business Unit by Rekhiat Momoh, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of EKEDC. Otto, Iganmu, Ijora, Alaka, Iponri, Ebute Metta, Adekunle, Iwaya, Otto, Onike, Surulere, Yaba, and Ajegunle are among the areas included.
The main goal of the meeting, according to Momoh, who was represented by Samuel Edoho, General Manager, Commercial, EKEDC, was to work together with consumers.
She reiterated the Disco’s commitment to taking proactive measures to protect people, property, and equipment.
According to Momoh, the town hall meeting provided a platform for communicating with clients and addressing problems that different communities within EKEDC’s network are facing.
She claimed that the ongoing stakeholder engagement by the EKEDC management has produced positive on-the-spot feedback.
According to her, the involvement had expedited the examination of potential solutions for issues related to power supply, vandalism, and other elements that could hinder the provision of services to clients.
According to the CEO of EKEDC, the firm has implemented sufficient strategies to close the metering gap in its network by offering smart meters to every power user.
She claimed that while money made to buy the meter would be reimbursed through tokens, the Disco is trying to eliminate all backlogs of unmetered users.
“Customers who are yet to register are advised to visit EKEDC’s official website and fill out the application form to benefit from the ongoing massive metering.
“We have given matching orders to all meter vendors to install all backlogs with immediate effect to enable all customers to have access to prepaid meters,” she said.
Momoh issued a warning to electricity users about meter installer extortion and advised them not to pay meter installers before their meters are placed.
According to her, most meter suppliers and installers who asked for extra costs for meter installation had already been sanctioned.
“Meter installers are not meant to request a dime from customers for meter installation. No installers should be given additional fees on installation. It’s not in the meter arrangements,” she added.
According to Momoh, the business will shortly start a unique metering program under the Presidential Metering Initiative, with Band A consumers benefiting first before other Bands.
Regarding service delivery, Momoh stated that the business was committed to hearing about the issues and concerns of its clients in an effort to provide prompt solutions.
According to her, her team regularly responds to consumer concerns, making promises to rectify them in order to enhance DisCo’s customer satisfaction rating.
She gave the consumers confidence that the business had already started a number of initiatives to enhance power supply and promptly address concerns, and she especially urged them to adopt the metering plan in order to resolve the matter of anticipated billing.
She encouraged clients to obtain meters, avoid doing business with unapproved parties, and report any instances of dishonest people to the company’s whistleblowing initiatives.
Babatunde Lasaki, General Manager of Corporate Communications, also restated that customers should refrain from engaging in unlawful acts that impact not only the DisCo but the entire power business, such as meter tampering, assaults on workers, and meter bypassing.
He claims that the punishments for these offences have been approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and EKEDC would make sure that anyone who commit any of these crimes will face the full force of the law.
‘‘Every customer has a responsibility to protecting the industry,” he added.
Adeleye Abolade, Chairman of the Ijora Customers Forum, asked clients to be accountable for the transformers and make sure that all of EKEDC’s assets are properly safeguarded.
Abolade gave community leaders the responsibility of making sure vandalism and energy thefts in their areas were prosecuted.
Nonetheless, he made a plea to Eko DisCo’s management to enhance their feedback system and turnaround time for resolutions.
He said that while the DisCo deserves praise for better service delivery, it should also make sure that broken equipment is replaced and that appropriate metering is in place.
