High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye, the traditional ruler of Otumara community in Lagos Mainland Local Government has implored the federal government to stop its proposed electricity price hike until all consumers are equipped with meters.
He emphasised that the approach would ensure fair payment for actual electricity usage and eliminate the burden of estimated billing, which affects small businesses.
The federal government through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had announced an increase in electricity tariff to N225 per kilowatt from N66 for consumers in the band A category.
Reacting to the proposrs increase, the monarch said: “The current electricity prices are hurting. Many homes and businesses are unmetered. They are on estimated billings. The distribution companies on a monthly basis serve consumers unjustified bills without supplying electricity.
“Nigerians don’t want to pay for electricity consumed on the basis of estimated bills. We want to pay for what we consume therefore we should be provided meters to achieve this.
“For instance, in my community, there was power outage for four months, but within this period, residents were served huge bills at the end of each month. The Discos demanded to be paid for the services not rendered. The implication of this is that many of the small businesses, especially those that sell frozen foods are forced out of business while those that require electricity to power their businesses couldn’t operate.
“Also, those that live in Ebute-Meta west and East in Lagos Mainland and other parts of the state that are yet to be metred are not finding it easy. They pay through our noses for estimated bills. We have heard severally meetings with Eko Electricity Distribution Company where they promised that they would make metres available but till date we have heard nothing from them.
“I cannot count the number of visitors I receive on a daily basis at my Palace complaining of outrageous billings they are served by EKEDC.
“Therefore the proposed increase would have adverse effects on businesses if consumers are not metred. The Federal Government through the NERC must do everything possible to make metres available to consumers to end estimated billings.
He added: “The electricity distributors should also make it a top priority to meter consumers and desist from extorting and over-billing end users with estimated bills.
“With the current economic hardship, it hurts to be forced to pay for the electricity that is not consumed. This kills business and overstretched the finances of unmetered electricity consumers.
“Electricity consumers should be made to pay for what they consume and not being forced by the discos to pay for the electricity not consumed. The FG must assist small businesses to survive by making metres available and end estimated bills. The government must ensure that this is done before the implementation of the proposed increased in electricity tariff.”
He called for the review of the licences of the distribution companies for effective delivery of their mandates.
He said: “The FG licenced the discos with the mandate to provide prepaid metres to electricity consumers but they have failed in the discharge of this responsibility. This is because they are raking in more money than they would when consumers are metred.
“I therefore want to urge the Federal Government to feel the pulse of the masses and ascertain their level of needs especially as regards electricity generation, distribution and consumption.
“Also, the National Assembly should wade into the matter and address why the discos are unable to metre electricity consumers. If there is any need to revoke their licences for inability to live up to expectation, they need to do this for the sake of the masses.
“The people at the grassroots cannot be struggling to make ends meet and at the end of the day the distribution companies will collect all the monies through estimated billings.”
