ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Sunday, March 7, 2021
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Power Lines [Photo: energymixreport.com]

Power Lines used to illustrate the story [Photo: energymixreport.com]

In Maiduguri, improved electricity supply brings pain

byAgency Report
December 18, 2018
2 min read

An appreciable improvement in power supply in Maiduguri has led to outrageous billings by the electricity company, some residents the city have said.

The electricity consumers, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, described the billings by the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) as worrisome, adding that it was not in the interest of the masses because it has hindered economic activities and social life of the people.

They also alleged that YEDC hiked electricity bills by over 100 percent for commercial and residential areas sequel to the improvement in power supply in the area.

Esther Chukwuma, one of the consumers, described the new billing adopted by the power distribution company as frustrating and lamentable.

“My bill indicated that I used 605 units in November and they charged N14,000 as against N6,500 for September, where I used the same units.

“They are charging me for what I did not consume because, during the day, I spend most of my time in my shop. I only use the electricity at night at home.

“I have a prepaid metre in the shop and I don’t spend more than N2,000 in a whole month.

“So how come I am not staying at home and I am being asked to pay N14, 000?

“I am here in their office, demanding an explanation,” she said.

RelatedNews

CBN says new scheme will ease diaspora remittances

VIDEO: COVID-19 vaccine offers hope for a safe country, free of Coronavirus – Buhari

UFC: Nigeria’s Israel Adesanya set for epic MMA clash

Lessons Niger Delta leaders must learn from Buhari – IYC president

Also speaking, Fatima Musa, a widow, said, “I was given a bill of N15,000 monthly instead of the N5,000 I used to get monthly.

“I strongly disagree with this outrageous charges given without any explanation”.

She said electricity consumers were at the receiving end, especially those without prepaid metres, noting that the billing process was “opaque and lacks transparency”.

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

Ibrahim Suleiman, another consumer who lives in Bolori, appealed to the YEDC to go back to the former status quo where electricity was supplied for 12 hours and not 24 hours.

Mr Suleiman described the stable power supply as a “wastage” because many consumers cannot use electricity during working hours.

“I work from 7 p.m. to 4 p.m. So I do not need any electricity until I get home. But in this case, whether you consume power or not, you will be billed to pay for it. I think this is not fair,” he said.

Abdullahi Bako, who lives in Gwange, asked, how YEDC can bring a bill between N9,000 and N15,000 to a room apartment in a month.

“We are being forced to pay for electricity we never consumed. This is extortion. We demand for transparency in the billing methodology,” Mr Bako said.

Responding, Usman Wakta, the YEDC Maiduguri Business Manager, said the company does not bill its customers arbitrarily.

ADVERTISEMENT

“These complaints may be as a result of the commissioning of the 330kV transmission line which now supplies electricity 24 hours.

He said that before the commissioning of the new line, the stations relied on the 132KV controlled from Biu, which can only supply for a period of ten to 12 hours per day.

“On the average, we now supply electricity in the town for a minimum of 22 hours in a day, which simply implies that the consumption of energy by residents in the state have multiplied or even tripled itself.

“We took a simple study from our prepaid metres users and we found out that the people that usually came to buy unit of N2000 or N3000 in a month now have to spend N15,000 or N20,000 because of their energy usage.

“One thing we notice about the consumers is that they waste energy. People have this habit of leaving their lights on, even in the afternoon.

“Go to some supermarkets or filling stations, you will see more than 200 bulbs on in the afternoon. So the more you load you use, the more energy you consume.

On the allegation of exorbitant billing of consumers without meter, Mr Wakta said, “We go to people’s home to do load assessment based on the gadgets they have in the house and bill them accordingly.”

(NAN)

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...



JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (1)
premiumtimes



PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

EFCC files charges against Akwa Ibom governor, NBA president

Next Post

Former Trump adviser Flynn to be sentenced for lying to FBI

Agency Report

Agency Report

More News

ARMY: Nigerian Soldiers (Army) on duty. [PHOTO CREDIT: The Guardian]

BREAKING: Travellers stranded on Maiduguri-Damaturu highway as Boko Haram attack military base

March 7, 2021
Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State [Photo: bauchistate.gov.ng/]

Bauchi govt. Commissions N6.12bn reconstruction, rehabilitation of Government House

March 6, 2021
A Christian cleric, Bulus Yikura, who was kidnapped by Boko Haram, has been freed.

Boko Haram frees kidnapped pastor who begged FG, CAN for help

March 3, 2021
Governor Muhammed Inuwa Yahaya

Gombe governor reshuffles cabinet, sacks three commissioners

March 1, 2021
APC: Mai Mala Buni, Yobe State Governor [PHOTO: Media Office, Yobe State Government House, Damaturu]

Boko Haram: Yobe government shuts all boarding schools

February 28, 2021
Ali Modu Sheriff

I will contest APC chairmanship if zoned to North-east – Modu Sheriff

February 27, 2021
Next Post
Michael Flynn

Former Trump adviser Flynn to be sentenced for lying to FBI

Andrew Broad (Photo Credit: The Weekly Times)

Australian minister to quit politics over sex scandal

Discussion about this post

Search

#EndSARS: Latest Updates




Polaris Bank


JAIZ Ad


Access Bank Ad


NITDA Ad





Glo Ad

Subscribe to News via Email

Enter your email address and receive notifications of news by email.

Join 1,629,739 other subscribers.

Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert



Zenith Advert

ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
    • Dubawa NG
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.