Refunds for metre payments will be given to electricity users – EKEDC

All energy customers who purchased metres through the Metre Asset Provider (MAP) scheme would receive a credit “token” back within six months, according to the Eko energy Distribution Company (EKEDC).

Dr. Tinuade Sanda, the Chief Executive Officer of EKEDC, provided the guarantee on Thursday at a Customer Engagement Forum in the Lagos suburb of Agbara.

Customers at the forum came from the Agbara business unit, which includes Agbara, Owode, Ijanikin, Ajara, and Badagry, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Ajido, Otto-Awori, Ketu, Pota, Avia, Oko-Afo, Aiyetoro, Seme, Ilogbo-Ereni, Era-Abule, Kwame, Aradagun, and lbereko are further names.

In order to avoid being charged through estimated billing, Sanda, represented by Mr. Samuel Edoho, General Manager, Commercial, Revenue Cycle, EKEDC, asked customers to participate in the ongoing metering process.

He asserts that getting metres is the only way to put a stop to the regular complaints about alleged overbilling and anticipated charging.

“MAP plan customers will receive a refund within six months.

“The Disco has started massive metering of customers who paid through the MAP scheme,” she stated.

The head of EKEDC added that some consumers wanted to know if the money they paid for metres under the MAP scheme will be repaid, necessitating the clarification.

She clarified that the forum’s main goal was to connect with customers in their network and discuss how to deliver services more effectively.

“At Eko DisCo, our goal is to make every customer’s life better by supplying energy in a way that is safe, sustainable, and dependable.

That is what we support, and we’ll keep spreading the word about it, Sanda remarked.

She expressed faith in Eko Disco’s dedication to advancing infrastructure and the economy.

She added that the business was dedicated to providing clients with a secure, dependable, and consistent power supply as part of its network operations.

The Distribution Company (Disco) aims to have all of its clients metered, according to the chief executive officer.

She stated that DisCos now had effective metering for around 70% of its clients and was striving to ensure effective metering for the remaining 30%.

The head of EKEDC further stated that all parties involved in the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) value chain held the money obtained from customers.

“The remittances made by the DisCos to the market operator are split up along the value chain, with the remaining funds going towards infrastructure requirements, business expenses, and employee wages.

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“The abolition of anticipated billings and immediate targeted metering of customers with prepaid metres is the way to go, as accepted by all stakeholders in NESI.

There are bottlenecks now, and they are primarily caused by Generation Companies (GenCos), she stated.

Regarding vandalism, Sanda advised patrons to act as their watchdogs and notify management when property was destroyed.

She made an appeal to clients and other stakeholders to help the business combat energy theft and network destruction.

She claims that despite significant investments made in electrical infrastructure by EKEDC, the rate of equipment vandalism is still high.

She claimed that vandalism was harming the company’s ability to provide power to its consumers.

She claimed that we had lately reported instances of transformer damage, stolen cables, and other network infrastructure.

She said that a significant amount of money had been spent by the corporation on infrastructure improvements such equipment, transformers, and pole upgrades.

However, Sanda reassured its network’s electrical users that their concerns will be taken seriously.

The Baale of Era Town, Otto-Awori, Chief Olumide Erinle, praised Eko Disco management for responding quickly to issues while pleading with community representatives to be patient while waiting for the corporation to handle their grievances.

Erinle advised EKEDC to increase its awareness-raising efforts in order to inform the communities in their network of the necessity to stop erecting homes close to high-tension wires.

Before the subsequent town hall meeting, he advised Discos to make sure that all grievances were resolved.

“The issue of low electricity shedding in rural areas needs to be addressed immediately.

Every person should help DisCo secure their facilities so they can fulfil their pledges, he added.

In order to protect the equipment, Mr. Festus Eweka, Chairman of the Customers Consultative Forum, advised Eko Disco to install solar lights in every transformer and every one of their facilities in rural areas.

Eweka thanked the local authorities for their input and advised them to keep guarding EKEDC’s infrastructure against vandals.