I wish to present this our experience with Ikeja Electric which may serve as an advice and awareness on the irregular billing by Ikeja Electric Distribution Company once CONNECTION accounts have been created.

We applied for 18 Prepaid Meters in January 2020 for our building to have dedicated meter for each of the sixteen (16) mini flats, water pump machine/outside lights and a shop respectively. On the process, fifteen (15) additional accounts were created to supplement the three (3) existing postpaid accounts as prerequisite for the 18 prepaid meters.

The supply, installation and commissioning of the prepaid meters were done on 15th July, 2020.

Before then, we have been maintaining the SAME Monthly bills on the three (3) postpaid accounts, until after the installation and commissioning of the prepaid meters in mid-July.

Immediately after the commissioning of the prepaid meters, we observed arrears of #2,696.00 on all the accounts, which we were informed that they were charges for the 100 units that came with the new meter.

Subsequently, we observed another migrated outrageous arrears of #72,491.20 minimum on all the 18 prepaid accounts, without prior knowledge of such outstanding bills.

We made both verbal and written complaints to Ikeja Electric and were told that I quote “upon the creation of the Fifteen (15) new accounts the wiring of each premises (flats) has been separated in expectation of the prepaid meters and as such each premises is to have a separate bill serving each apartment and are unable to provide adjustment on this matter”.

The fact is that the actual separation of wiring to each apartment was done in mid-July, 2020 during the installation of the prepaid meters and not in January 2020 when the accounts were created.

This is a clear case of double billings on the 3 old postpaid and 18 new accounts at the same time, because were still receiving the same bills as before the prepaid meters application.

We have sent repeated letters to customercare@ikejaelectric.com soliciting for their assistance for the cancellation or reduction of the migrated arrears on new prepaid accounts, but yet to receive any feedback from them and their provided phone number is never reachable.

This has left us with no other choice than to be paying the arrears grudgingly, because 50% of every recharge is being deducted to settle the arrears’ balance.

Humble advice:
Please ensure you follow-up aggressively with the power distribution company once you have applied for a connection account, whether for new house or prepaid meter.
They do not care whether you are using the electrical energy or not before billing you outrageously and this is an error!

This is an eye opener