*HOW TO LOWER YOUR PHCN BILL*

*WHY PREPAID METER BEING DISTRIBUTED TO ALL MAY NEVER BE ACHIEVED IN NIGERIA.*

*PLS, BE ENLIGHTENED!*

After the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Electricity Distribution Companies are next on the list of corruption. This has been in existence from time immemorial. Just like barracks, many government have come and gone, but the deep rooted corruption in the system remains the same.

In April 2016, I moved in to my current rented apartment. The apartment was still connected, and there was an outstanding payment of about N385,000.00 to be paid.

*ARE YOU FACING THE SAME CHALLENGE?*
(Might be a lengthy but worthy read).

This wasn't revealed to me before I made payment of the rent, as usual (that's how they all do).
This became a worry and an absolute headache.

I asked the landlady why it was so and she made me understand that the apartment was not in use for 5years.

I asked how it wasn't reported to NEPA so they'd stop the billing, she gave me a copy of the letter she wrote to them.

So I took up the matter, wrote several mails to Eko Electricity Company and the matter was on for eleven months.
Note that in the space of this 11 months, I never got a monthly bill lesser than N24,000

You want to ask if I have a factory in my apartment? No, I don't!

So it extended from wanting the company to zerorize the ridiculous outstanding balance in the billing account to fighting and contesting the outrageous billing system which do not in any way represent my true electricity consumption and wanting a Prepaid Meter.

The battle began!
After several exchange of mails between myself and Eko Electricity, no solution was forthcoming. I moved the matter to NERC, the regulatory body for all electricity distribution companies in Nigeria.

I filed a petition against EKEDP and the undertaking in charge of my area.

Lo and behold, after three days from the petition submission to NERC, I got a call from the marketing manager for my area pleading for me to make myself available to allow them come to my house and take inventory of the electrical appliances I use.

NERC is working, yeah? Right!

A staff of the EKEDP came to take the inventory and at the end of the computations, we calculated and multiplied each appliance by the estimated units they consume per day and multiplied by 31days.

Recall I said I never got a bill less than 24k in a month.
Then we arrived at a figure that even the Eko electric staff who came to take the inventory opened his mouth and couldn't close it.

What I should be billed based on having 24hour light per day (which is not even possible) in 31 days was N4,800. I almost ran mad!
I took a copy of the report, scanned it and attached it to my next petition to NERC.

At this point, the marketing manager attached to my undertaking had started calling and begging me to stop the petitions.

That they could all get sacked if matters gets escalated further.

Then in September 2017, after all the troubles and how I never got tired of pursuing the issue, I got a mail from Eko electricity to come with some required documents in order to fill a form for a PREPAID METER.

I went there and did as they requested. At last!
On 27 November 2017, I was on leave.
I was at my gate when this Alfa-looking guy was parading and trying to see house number on the fence. My instinct told me to ask if he was asking for Ayo, then he said "yes". He was the prepaid meter installer, he was with my new prepaid meter.

I also recalled that before the whole issue started, I was discouraged severally that I can never be given prepaid meter due to the outstanding balance on the billing account. I paid no mind to all the people that said that and went ahead with my case.

I got the prepaid meter for FREE!

After a week, bill was brought and boom, outstanding balance has been cleared from 385,000.00 to zero balance.

How did I achieve this?

I mean I didn't pay a dime to anyone and I never for once bribed my way in all my dealings. I achieved this simply because:

1. I knew my right.
2. I wouldn't settle for mediocrity
3. I never stopped pushing even after several months and it seemed unachievable
4. I was ready to take the matter up anywhere
5. I was informed.

Now, imagine how many people out there who don't even know how to go about such tedious and draining process. I learnt that a lot of people even paid as much as 40k to get the prepaid meter. Something that's supposed to be free.

Since the prepaid meter was installed in November 27, 2017, I have not exhausted the 303 Units that came with it which is calculated to be N7,200

And I still have 140units left to use. That's over four (4) months now.

Do you now see why these people will never allow dream of every homes having a prepaid meter become a reality?

Because such development will block all holes where the electricity distribution corrupt members of staff perpetrate their fraudulent activities and corruption from.

They know that they will be forced to give light more in order to generate revenue and will not be able to charge people outrageously as they are currently doing and remitting the proceeds of their criminal act to their pockets.

Stand up and Fight for what is your right. Prepaid meter is your right, fight for it to the letter.

If you believe that your monthly electricity bill do not represent your consumption, make a case.

If you're in Lagos, Ogun, Ikeja Electricity Company, Eko Electricity company and Ibadan Electricity Company are there for you.

If they fail, involve NERC.

That will be all, for now.

Due to popular demand, these are the email addresses you can forward your complaints to:-

Ikeja Electricity Distribution: customercare@ikejaelectric.com
Eko Electricity Distribution: customercare@ekedp.com
Ogun state: customercare@ibedc.com

Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission: complaints@nerc.gov.ng

Do you know that, by law, you are entitled to at least 14 days between the date you receive your electricity bill and the date when you are to pay that bill?

Do you know that, by law, your Electricity Distribution Company must give you a written notice of disconnection before it can disconnect you for non-payment of your bill?

If you answered "yes" to the last question, then do you know that, by law, your Electricity Distribution Company must wait for at least 90 days from the date of giving you notice of disconnection, before it can legally disconnect you?

Do you know that if you are unlawfully disconnected, you can compel your distribution company to reconnect you without paying reconnection fee, and that you can get this done without going to court?

Do you know that if you are illegally disconnected, you are entitled to damages at a minimum of N1,000 per day to be paid by your Electricity Distribution Company for each day of disconnection till your power is restored?

Do you know that there is an administrative body that meets in your city, or a city close to you, that monitors the activities of Electricity Distribution Companies and will compel them to respect your rights if they breach same?

If you answered NO to any of these questions, then you, like so many others, are the victim of a conspiracy of silence by the Electricity Distribution Companies, who have been statutorily mandated to carry out regular public awareness campaigns on these and other consumer rights within their franchise area.

There is a solution at hand.

An online platform has been created to educate power consumers of their rights under the reformed power sector in Nigeria. Not only that, if you have suffered from any breach of your rights, you can get *free help* on that platform to enforce your rights.

Go to www.nepawahala.ng.

Register. Ask any question that bothers you. Ask for help. It's all free.

Go to www.nepawahala.ng.

One candle loses nothing by lighting another. It only spreads light and pushes back this present darkness.

If you have suffered from a breach of your rights as a power consumer, chances are someone you know has been, or is a victim too.

_Excerpt_

Hi, what about BEDC
Is it regulated by NERC also?
*modified

I've checked it. They're been regulated by NERC
I'm making a complaint against BEDC

Dannybammz:
Hi, what about BEDC
Is it regulated by NERC also?
*modified

I've checked it. They're been regulated by NERC
I'm making a complaint against BEDC

Yes

Interesting piece.

daddytime:
Interesting piece.

Tnx

What an expose! Thank so much for these vital information from your experience! Currently, I'm having a similar issue with EKEDC.

Did you know that my kilowatts rate was increased twice between May and August and I was being rated on 33kva on which I'm not? Even, my Estimated Bill has the name of a marketer I have never met yet, my bill keeps increasing!
I wrote severally with evidences to the customer care but no action was taken. So, I had to copy NERC.
I had already arranged for a prepaid metre to curb their criminal acts.
Now no bill has been issued to me in September & October but the field guys who are agitated are now asking for my previous bill wanting me to pay on it. They are aware of these irregularities.
A request I declined.
Their plan now might be to disconnect my line.

trychris:
What an expose! Thank so much for these vital information from your experience! Currently, I'm having a similar issue with EKEDC.

Did you know that my kilowatts rate was increased twice between May and August and I was being rated on 33kva on which I'm not? Even, my Estimated Bill has the name of a marketer I have never met yet, my bill keeps increasing!
I wrote severally with evidences to the customer care but no action was taken. So, I had to copy NERC.
I had already arranged for a prepaid metre to curb their criminal acts.
Now no bill has been issued to me in September & October but the field guys who are agitated are now asking for my previous bill wanting me to pay on it. They are aware of these irregularities.
A request I declined.
Their plan now might be to disconnect my line.

Very soon they will beg you to stop petitioning NERC.. Those people are wicked and because Nigerians are ignorant about their right or ways to escalate issue, they find themselves negotiating with the criminal officials..

Smart move bro