By Fanen Ihyongo, Kano
The Management of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) yesterday announced that meter deployment and installation by its field officials remain free.
“Our meters are not for sale,” KEDCO Head of Corporate Communications, Ibrahim Sani Shawai, told The Nation in a statement.
The KEDCO management said the clarification became necessary in view of recent claims by some online platforms that customers in the Kano franchise were made to pay ‘indirectly’ for meters.
“This is totally out of place as we have never collected money for meter or installations. This is as a result of our support for the Federal Government Mass Metering Programme, where thousands of meters have been installed at different households under our franchise.
“It is in this regard that we are warning that anyone disguising as KEDCO member of staff or conniving with any of our members of staff to extort customers, such a person or persons would not be spared but prosecuted in line with the provisions of the law when caught,” Shawai said.
The Nation investigation reveals that while majority of the customers confirmed they do not pay, some said the installers do demand for “service fee.”
“I didn’t pay any fees when I had my meter installed in my house,” one resident said.
Another resident, Nasiru Danmaraya, who lives in the Sheka area of Kano also, confirmed he secured his meter without paying a dime.
“I had no meter until KEDCO officials came and marked my house and installed it for me free,” he said.
Bello Yusuf of Salanta area of Kano also said he didn’t pay any money for the installation.
“No one asked me to pay. I just saw those (KEDCO vendors) mapped my house and the next thing I saw was a free meter installed.
“I wish to commend the Federal Government and KEDCO management on the issue of metering. If this is sustained, the estimated billing that often brings dispute among customers and officials of the electricity distribution company will be eradicated,” he said.
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