NERC Monitors Electricity Complaints Resolution In Lokoja

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is monitoring an ongoing customer complaints resolution session in Lokoja, Kogi State.

Over 300 customers of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) are coming to submit their complaints and have them resolved on the spot by a team of AEDC customer care officials. Among the AEDC customers that were attended to was Victor Atule who had purchased a prepaid meter from the AEDC Lokoja office but could not recharge on the platform.

“That has been an issue for the past week but when I came today, they gave me two codes and said I should load it along with my token to activate the meter. I am very happy for the instant response,” said Atule.

Mrs Fatima Oveto, a Lokoja resident complained of the billing system saying people should not be made to pay the same estimated bill of N25,000 which is too high. “The customer care people have explained the tariff system to me and that it was approved by NERC. They said they will work on it and see what Band my community is in.”

Chief Yakubu Godwin, leader of Iga Community in Olamaboro LGA of Kogi state said his community has been out of power for years and wants that rectified. He was satisfied with the process as he was asked to attach a letter of connection to his complaints for AEDC to process.

Alhaji Abubakar Akowe submitted a complaint on behalf of Jama’atul Nasril Islam on their application for a meter in April 2023. “In the NERC evaluation form, I commended NERC for helping to resolve this issue because I have been assured that a meter has been assigned and will be installed today,” he said.

Honourable Ocheni Matthew, a landlord said he had filed a complaint to AEDC in 2022 about a meter bypass in his property which he was told to pay a N500,000 fine. “I contested the penalty because we suspected that the bypass was done in collusion with AEDC officials by my tenant who had died thereafter.” Ocheni said after another meeting, AEDC agreed to remove N100,000 from the fine and that he would have to pay the N400,000 fine.

Upon submitting this same complaint at the complaint session on Friday, Ocheni was directed by the AEDC customer care to appeal the case at the NERC Lokoja Forum Office if he was not satisfied with the previous resolution.

Most of the AEDC customers were grateful that their complaints including applying and getting a prepaid meter installed in their premises were resolved the same day during the three-day session.