FCT electricity consumers denounce unfair transfer to tranche A

Some electricity consumers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have decried the shift of their tariff to Band A even when they do not receive up to 20 hours of power supply per day.

In separate interviews with NAN on Tuesday, consumers residing in Kubwa, Lugbe and its environs said their transfer to Band A by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, was unfair.

NAN reports that Band A customers are those who enjoy at least 20 hours of electricity per day and are expected to pay N209.5/kilowatt hour (KWh).

Mrs Eniola Williams, a civil servant residing in Kubwa, said she was shocked when she recharged her meter and received 22.2 units for N5,000.

Williams said the area where she lives, in Kubwa, receives barely nine hours of electricity a day.

“Why should I pay for Band A services when I have virtually no power for 9 hours a day? It’s unfair and unacceptable.

“The first time I bought electricity and I was given 22.2 units for N5,000, I thought it was a mistake until I bought again and discovered the same thing happened.

“The AEDC should look at this issue seriously, because it is not right to collect money for services not rendered,” she said.

Another consumer residing in the same area, Mr Moses Okoro, said AEDC was not doing the right thing by collecting money for services not rendered.

According to him, he recharged N2,000 and only got 8.2 units of electricity when he was not supposed to be on Band A with the power supply hours in his area.

“Why should I pay for Band A service when I don’t have electricity for 9 hours a day? AEDC should check carefully and do the right thing instead of charging people arbitrarily,” he said.

Another consumer residing in Lugbe, Mr Ernest Osagie, said he recharged N10,000 and received 44.4 units of electricity.

Osagie said when he saw the units and inquired with neighbours in the same area, most of them said they were still buying at the old rate.

“This is not fair at all, how can people from the same area and the same transformer pay different electricity rates to a single electricity distribution company?

“I don’t understand how the transition of consumers to category A is taking place. The AEDC should therefore look into the matter and make amends,” he said.

Mrs Bola Akinwale, a resident of Lugbe, also said she recharged N2,000 and got 8.2 units of electricity.

According to her, neighbors in the same complex were still subject to the old tariff and wondered why the move to tranche A should be selective.

DAILY POST reports that several communities in Bwari Area Council have registered their grievances over the sudden transfer to Band A.

Residents of most of the communities, especially in Ushafa area of ​​the council, lamented that contrary to what AEDC claims, the community does not enjoy 20 hours of electricity supply.