Group Moves Against Extortion By DISCOs

An advocacy group, the Nigerian Electicity Consumers Advocacy Network (NECAN), has accused Power Distribution companies (DISCOs) of fraudulently extorting Consumers by billing them for unsupplied power.

President of NECAN, Mr Tom Akingbogun, who made the allegation recently, picked holes with the billing system of DISCOS across the nation.

He said there is a big challenge in the billing system of the distribution companies to customers because tariff is so high with the bills pegged at a constant and increasing rate despite remarkable drop in power supply to make up for such demands from the public.

Akingbogun said the power sector is faced with total collapse noting that the actions of the power firms are not yielding any positive result.

According to him, the DISCOs and GENCOs are more interested in generating money without commensurate satisfaction to consumers.

The group charged the incoming administration of the President-elect, Mr Muhammadu Bahari, to investigate the acitivties of the power firms aimed at putting in place measures that would help rid the system of extortion.

The Tide also gathered that customers in Isashi area in Lagos State have also expressed dismay over the fraudulent activities of the power distribution company in the area.

The constumers warned the firm not to venture entering the areas with the notion to disconnect residents until there is improvement in the power suppy.

They said, they would no longer pay for what they did not buy stressing that the companies who brought over the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) assets are not bothered by the plight of customers, instead they are consistent in collecting money at the end of the month as if they rendered services to the consumers.

They urged the Federal Government to come to the rescue of Nigerian masses who are openly defrauded on monthly basis.

It would also be recalled that consumers in Eagle Island area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State Capital had placed similar warning to officers of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) not to attempt coming to disconnect residents until there is improved supply of electricity in the area.

Similarly, residents of Diobu area of Port Harcourt, recently demonstrated against alleged fraudulent billing by PHED and advised the company not to enter the area for collection of payment or disconnection of light.