FCT Residents Decry Estimated Bills, Demand Prepaid Meters

Some residents of Dei-Dei, Byazhin and Kubwa communities in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed frustration over persistent and excessive estimated electricity billing by electricity distribution companies.

The residents spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

They said electricity bills had continued to rise despite irregular power supply, while also lamenting the difficulty in acquiring prepaid meters.

The residents called on electricity distribution companies to provide prepaid meters to consumers to ensure transparency and accountability in billing.

A Dei-Dei resident, Mohammed Nuhu, said it had become difficult for families to cope with the charges.

He said: “Sometimes, we stay without power for days, yet the bills still come in huge amounts.

“I believe if we have prepaid meters, the charges will be lower because consumption will only increase when there is electricity supply and appliances are used.”

He, however, said he was still making efforts to purchase a prepaid meter for his household.

Another resident, Blessing Umeh, said the estimated billing system had made it difficult for low-income earners to cope with the rising cost of living.

According to her, the estimated billing system still being used in some communities is unfair to consumers.

She said this was because there was no proper accountability from either side.

“Many residents are being charged for electricity they did not consume,” she said.

“It is also difficult for the electricity company to accurately determine what a household has consumed within the stipulated period.”

She, however, urged the electricity company to improve power supply to residents to relieve them of “unnecessary suffering.”

Nnamdi Anthony, who lives in Kubwa, also urged the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to accelerate the installation of prepaid meters in communities where they are still lacking.

Anthony, who is also a barber, said this was necessary to ensure transparency and fairness in billing customers.

He said: “Prepaid meters will help consumers monitor their usage and avoid exploitation through estimated billing.

“It is important because apart from our household consumption, the rising charges are negatively affecting our businesses too.

“The bills are too high for small businesses like mine. I spend more on electricity and fuel, leaving little or no profit.

“We hardly have power supply for long hours, yet the bills keep increasing every month.”

He urged stakeholders in the power sector to prioritise investment in infrastructure and customer service to improve public confidence in the system. (NAN)