Customers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria have expressed dissatisfaction with the rising incidence of crazy billing by the organisation, DAYO OKETOLA writes
Although, it is not a new development, the ‘crazy bills’ problem has continued to anger millions of electricity consumers in the country.
Crazy billing is the estimation of customers’ bills based on energy supplied to a particular community and not on the actual consumption by individuals.
The situation is largely felt by customers whose post-paid meters are either faulty or damaged or who do not have any meter. Whatever the case may be, no customer takes the issue of ‘crazy bills’ lightly.
Statistics has revealed that this problem affects over 60 per cent of the total population of electricity consumers in the country. These people feel cheated for paying for electricity that is never supplied. As such, it does not only cause palpable anger among customers, it has continued to pitch the people against PHCN employees.
Customers, who spoke with our correspondent, condemned the situation.
Mr. Jon Okafo, a PHCN customer in the Surulere area of Lagos, said, “In fact, it is alarming to note that the power issue has not improved while the issue of crazy billing has actually gotten worse. In my neighbourhood in Lawanson, Surulere, all the homeowners have come together under the aegis of landlords association to petition PHCN. The message is clear-you are killing us with crazy bills, it is either you review it downwards, or we won’t pay!
“Personally, I have written to the Masha area office of the PHCN to register my total displeasure with their “estimated billing” practice. Nothing has changed, I will do another petition. The bill keeps increasing every month. The only thing that has changed about the crazy bills is that the amount keeps peaking every month, while generation keeps nose-diving,” he added.
The Treasurer, Shokeye Community Development Association, Mowe, Ogun State, Mr. Femi Olusanya, said, “The situation still persists and even worse than when I wrote my last complaint.”
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