drI:
please this topic interests me as I am in the same condition and I know lots of people facing this too.
In my case, they refuse to read the meter, giving us estimated bills of 17k etc and even when we pay the money it's not reflected and the bills keep accumulating. we have complained and written lots of letters attaching all our receipts of payments all to no avail.
whenever they come around they cut the light despite our explanations. Apparently the disconnection team is not same as the billing team. it's quite discouraging.

I think this should be moved to front page so that people who have solutions to this misdemeanor can bring it up.

I know there is a consumer protection agency but I don't know if it is functional.

I really can't wait for competition in the power sector. PHCN would definitely go the way of NITEL.

u can write 2 d consumer protection agency der ar very functional
Just check ur bill well u will c der address

Jagabanmonerry:
That is my biggest surprise. Disconnect you n still bring bills on monthly basic... Please, do you think dat the formal written can stop the billing after disconnection because this PHCN guys are crazies.

To stop the bills from coming while you are disconnected ( for extended period), you have to write to them to put you on what they call Minimum. The bills will still come but it will be reading zero. They have an office that handles that.

Settled the bill and request for a prepaid meter...

sisisioge:
Hello house, please I need some serious help here. PHCN has been the only issue I've got with the apartment I share. It is actually a converted mini-flat com two-bedroom. A GF and I decided to demarcate the space such that we both got our rooms. We came in as simple girls with simple gadgets.

I had just two bulbs, a TV, fridge and AC. Nothing more except some rarely used kitchen gadgets. She had small stuffs like me too. We were barely home to use these things. Soon enough, she got transferred and left her space to her young male cousin whose main belonging is a radio...no power consumption.

All was well for about three months into our stay until craaze fell on PHCN.Our bill jumped from 2k to 12k, 10k, etc. In fact, we once got 17k! I swearit, I tried to move out but couldn't get anything affordable and thought I could have it fixed. So, we've been paying 10k every month for as long as I can remember, yet, we have over 60k outstanding on the bill! This was because we were paying 3k for about six months before deciding to up amount after realizing the value kept increasing.

The unthinkable happened today when I got home to see a disconnection ticket even after paying 10k about 2 weeks ago!Now I'm thinking of just writing them to stop our billing, we are no longer interested. Cos I am so not gonna pay, will probably partially move back home.

What do you think? We have gone to their Shomolu customer care tire, spoken to the marketing manager here... nothing. They came for load assessment yet nothing. E don tire me. What should we do? Our small space gets charged same amount the bigger flats get...yet we no get anything o. We asked for prepaid meter, yet nothing.

sisisioge:


Ok, CC all those bodies in the letter? It sounds captivating already. Many thanks.

Yeap

OpinionCounts:
If only you guys could just write to NERC and submit your queries clearly stating the distribution contractor involved, believe me they will do something to stop all the anormaly. I never believed government institutions worked in this country until 5days ago when I wrote to NERC reporting the DC in my area for over billing me, they immediately wrote a warning reply mail to the DC and gave them 3days to correct it or face sanction, the DC corrected the bill at exactly the 3rd day and apologized to me.

Is this in Lagos? If yes, please can you let us have the NERC address?

The only way I Dare Diamond Can Help you and every other people experiencing this injustice is by teaching you how to make your own Power Amplifier.

PHCN suppliers 220VAC at 60heartz(he). That Voltage and frequency is too low for Power Amplification.

You must step it up.

How?

Goto www.aliexpress.com and buy FR607 Diodes. This diode is an High Frequency Diode. I do not think it will be available in Lagos hobby market so go to where I direct you to buy it. Buy like 100pieces. If that is too costly for you, buy HER208 which is rated at 1000V 2Aamps(A)

You need 2 pieces 450V 1000uf capacitos too. You need adjustable H-Bridge Inverter or Full Bridge Inverters.
If you do not know how to make an Inverter just Post on Nairaland you need someone who can and you will sure get someone for yourself.

Now assuming you are an hobbyist, let me begin the construction process.

Make a Full Bridge Rectifier using your High Frequency Diodes. Pass it output to those 450V 1000uf capacitors to filter the ripple. Now from there, Pass the filter 220VDC to you H-Bridge Inverter which Must have IR2453D all-in-one IC as it Oscillator.
Search online for this IC Inverter Circuit and buld the one from Homemadecircuit owned by Swagatam Majumdar.

That IC can take up to 600V.
Use only Variable resistor at it Rt point.

Now assuming you have made the adjustable frequency or switching speed F.B Inverter main circuit, make a non-center tapped transformer of 220V in 10KV out Transformer.

If you do not know how to wind a transformer, please make a post on Nairaland and or search online for knowledge about it.

10Kilovolt AC or Aternatin Current will kill you in jiffy if you are not careful so please know what you are doing.

Set the inveter driver to High Frequency like 70khz or more depending on the amount of Maximum frequency your core can take. Your Core must be Ferrite core which you can as well buy on www.aliexpress.com

Now havng successfully amplify the frequency and voltage, next is step it down to 12VDC or 24VDC or 36VC or 48VDC or 96VDC and Step it up again to 220VAC.
So how can you do this?

Here you need Toroidal Core or more easier to work with C-Core which must be High Frequency Core or Ferrite Core. The winding of this core must be Assymetrical.

That is, the Primary must be spliteed I to 2 while a Single single is wound over the Splited Primary.

On one part of the C core wound one of the twin Primary in Clockwise direction and on the other part or leg, wind that one in clockwise direction too.
Now wind the Secondary over both now joined C cores.

The Primary winding must be able to take in with ease 10KV.

LivingBetter:
National Electricity Regulation Commission has said that ANY electricity distribution company CANNOT disconnect any customer that has not be given Prepaid meter. Check NERC website for confirmation; use that to confront any agent that wants to disconnect you. You can thank me later. Information is power!

That order applies to those on maximum demand, like companies, banks and industries. The order that applies to private consumers is that if ur bill is under contention, u should not be disconnected, but alas, local service centre will disconnect you.

The best is not to be billed outrageously, once u are billed, no reverse or reconciliations. I was wrongly placed on commercial tarriff for some years, when I succeeded in returning the tariff to private residential, alas the accumulated difference was not refunded, after so much embarrassment of disconnection, I have to pay.

Prepaid meter to the rescue.

They will never stop because if anyone of the house members has ever seen the way they charge their marketers towards the customers you will understand what I am saying, I have been handling a case of account fixing and overestimation with them now in Ibadan for over eight months, made me to have written them more than three time in total which forced them to later review the account and credited it with over #14000 in April this year and they still surprised me again by giving me the energy consumed for the month that as high as Zuma rock which nuetralized the said credit whIle my billing was perfectly corrected and getting between less than one thousand and #1500, yet I still wrote them after this to query how I got as high unit consumed for the month of April as zuma rock and I was barely two weeks invited by their business manager after a letter from them was delivered to my house address and promised to make amendments because I indicated to take them to NERC in the last letter which of course I am going to do this month as they failed to do as promised when the latest bill for my house was out a week ago now..Those of you in the same shoes should do the same and don't get tired along the line because that is the key.

ikdaddy01:
Scan the bill and post. I sure guess its unpaid bills carried forward.
For estimated billing, if u dont pay on time the bill is moved to the next month and will only reflect in the 3rd months bill. I guess that why u get up and down reading.

Haba! I won't know the difference between current bill and previous balance? Those peeps are something else.

GogetterMD:

Be taking note of the meter readings yourself, and calculate how much consumption you have each month. Try to get in touch with your marketer, he/she is the dubious one behind your crazy billing. Tell them you won't be paying for any estimated billing
EKEDC are the most cruel dubious distribution company. They showed me pepper when I was in Surulere. Even after disconnecting me for four months, they still kept bringing crazy bills, minimum of 14k bill while I was there. Wey I no dey use anything apart from TV, fan, microwave. Dasall. Compared to now that I moved to an Ikeja electric area, even with 3 ACs, 6 fans, countless kitchen appliances, I get a bill of between 2k to 3k monthly

They discredited the meter. They said it lacks integrity cos the seal is broken. The reading is too small, we are probably tempering. Awonoluya

CDCEO001:
PHCN contributed in killing my mother, whenever she sees the bill she will panic and start making calls here and there.
Our own started small like yours, they used to bring like 3k to 5k, at a point it became 5k ans every month we pay the 5k. Then it moved to 7k 8k 9k, and we kept paying 5k, and after a while we started paying 7k 8k, and the bill now move to 10k 11k....we paid 11k last week and we currently have 140k outstanding payments. This is a rip off!!! All this bills are only estimated and not real, we've been asking for prepaid meter and they say is not ready yet.
We we've written letters to them and gone in person and nothing has been done. Even my mother gave money to a man who said he work with PHCN to go and talk to them, atleast to look into this outstanding payments that keeps increasing monthly, but nothing was done and we don't pay anything less than 10k monthly now.
The outstanding was around 100k when my mum was alive last year, is now 140k....she won't calm down when ever she sees the bill, essentially the outstanding.


OP, I don't know what to tell you as everything we did to resolve the issue failed.
Is not easy, this country is a mess!

I can relate. If I get an affordable apartment, I might just leave the cup for the landlord to deal with. I tried, wetin I dey use? To make matters worse, light is an average of 4hrs in a 24hrs.

FrankGiel:

After the load assessment, what was the monthly billing rate??

It was 2k plus for only that month. Then we got like 7k the next and like 11k plus after. If you place our bills beside the ones for the 6 flats in the house, they will all look like mirror images. They bill us all the same with only Kobo differences.

sisisioge:


It was 2k plus for only that month. Then we got like 7k the next and like 11k plus after. If you place our bills beside the ones for the 6 flats in the house, they will all look like mirror images. They bill us all the same with only Kobo differences.

You have been given the best solution to this issue. Escalate to NERC. You can write and drop it at their office or call. Find their details here. That's the best way to mitigate it.
http://www.nercng.org/index.php/contact/forum-offices/358-ikeja-forum-office

ismokeweed:

You have been given the best solution to this issue. Escalate to NERC. You can write and drop it at their office or call. Find their details here. That's the best way to mitigate it.
http://www.nercng.org/index.php/contact/forum-offices/358-ikeja-forum-office

Thanks a ton!

sisisioge:


They discredited the meter. They said it lacks integrity cos the seal is broken. The reading is too small, we are probably tempering. Awonoluya

But you know it's illegal for them to actually bill you without a meter billing? You need to stop playing soft and threaten them yourself

GogetterMD:

But you know it's illegal for them to actually bill you without a meter billing? You need to stop playing soft and threaten them yourself

I wish I could take time off during the business hours to do that. My flattie is kinda soft on them. Whew! Will try though...those moraaforkers had it coming.

Truth is bitter! PHCN is not the problem, Nigerian economy is!.Even at N30.93, Nigerians pay lower than Bangladesh for a unit of energy (KWH). The business of power generation is done in US dollars, hence the high bill.
The truth is we complain the bills are high but still can't find cheaper alternative because there is none. Try buying N20k petrol for your 1 room apartment and see how many days it can last.
Add the energy stealing and poor energy management by consumers to the equation and you see where the problem lie.

I think the best thing is to sue them to court
And let them explain to u how u accumulate those bill.
U will see how they will react.
Note that
1) u are not suppose to be disconnected in ur absence
2) the person disconnecting u should have a valid id card from his distribution company
3) he must also have a disconnection list from the company authorizing him to disconnect u indicating ur meter no.
4) otherwise u are suppose to jail him for damaging power line

Also remember that if u have paid for ur meter and it have not been delivered after 3months, are suppose to use electric power free (ie don't pay) until the meter is installed.

Nigerians �� should stand on their right

poseidon12:


Is this in Lagos? If yes, please can you let us have the NERC address?

Brother, this was in Portharcourt, but it doesn't matter where as long as its within Nigeria. NERC is a federal agency though the have state offices too which I also copied in the mail I sent.
NIGERIAN ELECTRICITY REGULATORY COMMISSION
Adamawa Plaza | Plot 1099 | First Avenue | Off Shehu Shagari Way | CBD
| P.M.B. 136 Garki - Abuja
☎ 09-462-1400, 09-462-1410 | ✆ 09-4621424. Emails are : atiseer.gberkon@nerc.gov.ng, complaints@nerc.gov.ng. The other emails I copied where to the Portharcourt branch, you can look up their website for their Lagos branch emails. www.nerc.gov.ng.

frenzyduchess:
Current tapper

it's what I do baby good morning!!!!

sisisioge:
Hello house, please I need some serious help here. PHCN has been the only issue I've got with the apartment I share. It is actually a converted mini-flat com two-bedroom. A GF and I decided to demarcate the space such that we both got our rooms. We came in as simple girls with simple gadgets.

I had just two bulbs, a TV, fridge and AC. Nothing more except some rarely used kitchen gadgets. She had small stuffs like me too. We were barely home to use these things. Soon enough, she got transferred and left her space to her young male cousin whose main belonging is a radio...no power consumption.

All was well for about three months into our stay until craaze fell on PHCN.Our bill jumped from 2k to 12k, 10k, etc. In fact, we once got 17k! I swearit, I tried to move out but couldn't get anything affordable and thought I could have it fixed. So, we've been paying 10k every month for as long as I can remember, yet, we have over 60k outstanding on the bill! This was because we were paying 3k for about six months before deciding to up amount after realizing the value kept increasing.

The unthinkable happened today when I got home to see a disconnection ticket even after paying 10k about 2 weeks ago!Now I'm thinking of just writing them to stop our billing, we are no longer interested. Cos I am so not gonna pay, will probably partially move back home.

What do you think? We have gone to their Shomolu customer care tire, spoken to the marketing manager here... nothing. They came for load assessment yet nothing. E don tire me. What should we do? Our small space gets charged same amount the bigger flats get...yet we no get anything o. We asked for prepaid meter, yet nothing.

Having a similar issue at my place. Bill rose from 5k to 10k. Sad thing is, the person i share the bill with is currently out of the country. I've been trying to rationalize the increment when i am about the only one using the light and i am hardly at home.

cocoberry:
The annoying part is my salary didn't increase and yet everything has added in the market

Mine did. With a very reasonable something

Goodmornin

hAlexandro:
it's what I do baby good morning!!!!

frenzyduchess:
Goodmornin

hope you having a fun filled weekend

Yes I am, thanks

hAlexandro:
hope you having a fun filled weekend

Eze2000:


u use electric stove?

No. But I use pressing iron, water dispenser, deep freezer, refrigerator, 2 TVs( 1 flat screen and 1 normal 21 inches, light bulbs, fans but no AC

PipMc:
I think the best thing is to sue them to court
And let them explain to u how u accumulate those bill.
U will see how they will react.
Note that
1) u are not suppose to be disconnected in ur absence
2) the person disconnecting u should have a valid id card from his distribution company
3) he must also have a disconnection list from the company authorizing him to disconnect u indicating ur meter no.
4) otherwise u are suppose to jail him for damaging power line

Also remember that if u have paid for ur meter and it have not been delivered after 3months, are suppose to use electric power free (ie don't pay) until the meter is installed.

Nigerians �� should stand on their right

1. You can be disconnected in your absence.
2. There was no indication in the post that they had no valid id.
3. You can be disconnected during monitoring for infractions or illegal connection without capture without your house being on disconnection list.
4. You can't jail any staff for disconnecting you. The liability is on the company and you can report to regulatory body to impose fine.
5. Do research from NERC regulations before passing on erroneous information.

ismokeweed:

1. You can be disconnected in your absence.
2. There was no indication in the post that they had no valid id.
3. You can be disconnected during monitoring for infractions or illegal connection without capture without your house being on disconnection list.
4. You can't jail any staff for disconnecting you. The liability is on the company and you can report to regulatory body to impose fine.
5. Do research from NERC regulations before passing on erroneous information.

I honestly think that u should be the one to make research on Nerc regulation and enquires before saying my info is erroneous.
Go to NERC electric reform act of 2005 section 5 subsection (f) stating that the distribution company should give u a written notice that u r about to be disconnected.
You don't honestly know ur right that's why they kept bullying u to pay any amount they want.

PipMc:


I honestly think that u should be the one to make research on Nerc regulation and enquires before saying my info is erroneous.
Go to NERC electric reform act of 2005 section 5 subsection (f) stating that the distribution company should give u a written notice that u r about to be disconnected.
You don't honestly know ur right that's why they kept bullying u to pay any amount they want.

I'm with the nerc handbook. I work with a DISCO as a complaint resolution officer so I know my rights as a customer.
Truth is words can be easily manoeuvred. 'Should' doesn't mean 'must'.
Also, the DISCOs are cunning and state it on the bill that barring payment within a certain time, you would be disconnected. You have basically been notified and it stands at NERC hearings.
As for dropping disconnection notice, NERC can't hold the DISCOs to that as a customer can claim he wasn't given notice at point of disconnection even if given. Same way the DISCO can claim they did. Who does NERC believe? The issue becomes, is the customer owing? If the customer says it's an estimated bill, has he complained? If he complained, as at the point estimation started, was there outstanding balance before? If yes, the DISCO will claim he was disconnected for that previous outstanding and are working on adjustment for the estimated debt.
For a customer not captured, that's an illegal customer and can be disconnected without prior notice.

ismokeweed:

I'm with the nerc handbook. I work with a DISCO as a complaint resolution officer so I know my rights as a customer.
Truth is words can be easily manoeuvred. 'Should' doesn't mean 'must'.
Also, the DISCOs are cunning and state it on the bill that barring payment within a certain time, you would be disconnected. You have basically been notified and it stands at NERC hearings.
As for dropping disconnection notice, NERC can't hold the DISCOs to that as a customer can claim he wasn't given notice at point of disconnection even if given. Same way the DISCO can claim they did. Who does NERC believe? The issue becomes, is the customer owing? If the customer says it's an estimated bill, has he complained? If he complained, as at the point estimation started, was there outstanding balance before? If yes, the DISCO will claim he was disconnected for that previous outstanding and are working on adjustment for the estimated debt.
For a customer not captured, that's an illegal customer and can be disconnected without prior notice.

While much of what you said is true, you are doing the same thing most Disco workers do- they try to wriggle out of the fact that estimated blling is being absued by most of the Discos. It is done by Eko disco very well and that is where anyone comoplaining should go to. I had an issue about two years ao with them when bill had rackked up to about 130k over a one ear period , where our community refused to pay because of the carzy bill. When NERC stepped in, I paid just one quarter of the amount and it was discovered that what the Disco did was to calssify my residential apartment as commercial in order to bill me higher. They still do the same today and when you dont take your case to NERC and come before the Forum, they just want you to pay in order to meet their target.

gidig:


While much of what you said is true, you are doing the same thing most Disco workers do- they try to wriggle out of the fact that estimated blling is being absued by most of the Discos. It is done by Eko disco very well and that is where anyone comoplaining should go to. I had an issue about two years ao with them when bill had rackked up to about 130k over a one ear period , where our community refused to pay because of the carzy bill. When NERC stepped in, I paid just one quarter of the amount and it was discovered that what the Disco did was to calssify my residential apartment as commercial in order to bill me higher. They still do the same today and when you dont take your case to NERC and come before the Forum, they just want you to pay in order to meet their target.

I'm not wriggling. They're exploiting people and I won't because I work there try to defend them. After all, it affects my people also.
I'm merely stating the way it is and the need for enlightenment. Going to NERC is the way forward but you should get your case right so they don't wiggle out. If you can't provide meters, the best bet should be to use a clamp meter to take the load of the customer and used for subsequent billing. All losses are being passed on to unmetered customers as it is.
When NERC imposes enough fines, the DISCOs will start billing right.

ismokeweed:

I'm not wriggling. They're exploiting people and I won't because I work there try to defend them. After all, it affects my people also.
I'm merely stating the way it is and the need for enlightenment. Going to NERC is the way forward but you should get your case right so they don't wiggle out. If you can't provide meters, the best bet should be to use a clamp meter to take the load of the customer and used for subsequent billing. All losses are being passed on to unmetered customers as it is.
When NERC imposes enough fines, the DISCOs will start billing right.

My apologies for accusing you of wriggling out. I totally agree with your submissions.