Catch electricity thieves, we are losing billions, Nigeria’s electricity coy cries out

Nigeria

Electricty company in Nigeria, Jos Electricity Distribution Plc, Benue State, has appealed to customers to join the war  against electricity theft, saying that the company has been shortchanged by thieves running into Billions of naira.

Describing the act of vandalism as a monster needed to be combated with all hands on deck, the energy company also called on customers to be prompt in bill payment.

It likened bill defaulters as enemies, explaining that both acts have hampered effective electricity distribution.

Speaking recently in Gboko at a Customers Consultative Forum organised by the company to sensitise the Customers in the state, the Operating Officer of the company, Engr. Felix Shalzim Adamu charged consumers to own the company as it leaves them with the only option to ensure steady electricity supply.

Represented by the State Commercial Officer, Engr Adeyemi Adebayo, Adamu explained that vandalism and energy theft have become combustible that could annihilate the entire energy sector in the country if not collectively combated.

“If you don’t pay for your consumed energy, you are making it very difficult for us to serve you effectively. This money you are paying goes down the value chain including suppliers of gas to the generating companies. The money does not belong to JED PLC alone. You should therefore endeavour to pay for your consumed energy promptly”, he said.

In his presentation on the need to be safety conscious, a staff of the company, Abubakar Lamido called on members of the public to avoid erecting buildings, staying or doing business under High-Tension wires to prevent electrocution or ancillary incidents. 

He called on members of the public to always maintain safety distance from 130KV, 132KV, 33KV and 11KV as approved by NESIS.

“The right of way measurement shall be divided equally from the centre of the line on either side. For safety reasons, no structure shall be built under the overhead line Right of Way. Where such structures are built after the construction of the line, the licencesee shall not be liable for any mishap caused by contact with the line”, he explained. 

Also, in his presentation, Dr Anwar Ahmed of the company’s Regulatory and Compliance Department who spoke on the contentious issue of third party investment advised customers to always seek for a proper agreement with the company before investing their resources if they intend to recoup the money invested. 

“Customers are always in the habit of saying they bought transformers, Poles, Wires that powered their vicinity and the Distribution company will come for a revenue drive without discounting anything. But did you go through the third party agreement for the recoupment of your money? Without the agreement, the company is not obligated to pay you anything. Go to the NERC website to educate yourself more on this”, he counselled the customers. 

Similarly, in his presentation Engr Annas Saleh Sadiq, disclosed that Jos Electricity Distribution Plc was currently metering its customers under the Federal Government DISREP schemes in addition to all the other existing metering programmes to bridge the metering gaps. 

Sadiq who disclosed that the company was working assiduously to meter all its premium customers especially those on Band A said that no fewer than 10,000 customers would be metered in Makurdi Business Unit before the end of December, adding that Gboko and Otukpo would be the next priority of the company in this regard. 

Earlier, the Head Customer Relationship Management, Umar Lawan who spoke on Complaints Redress Mechanism urged customers to endeavour to document their complaints to the company and attend to them expeditiously. 

In their separate remarks, representatives of Tor-Gboko, Engr J.I. Ahwa and Tor-Sankara Tarhemen Francis and that of Ishwa, Iorbee Akpenpwin as well as Richard Ngorngor of the United Bank of Africa, Tyough John Tyubee amongst others who commended the Management of Jos Electricity Distribution Plc for the initiative called for the forum to be held on a regular basis to enable them understand the trend in the industry.