Nigeria’s energy coy involves customers in fight against electricity theft
Nigeria
The fight against electricity thieves took a new turn on Wednesday when Nigeria’s Jos DisCo appealed to customers to join the company in the fight against energy theft.
This was discussed during a quarterly meeting tagged:“Customers Consultative Forum, organised by the northcentral Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED), to interact with its teeming subscribers.
“We urge you (customers) to support our fight against energy theft, which has continued to undermine the Company’s operations”, the Managing Director JED, Alhaji Mammanlafia Umar said.
Represented by the Chief Technical Officer JED, Engr. Hamisu Jigawa, Umar emphasized the need for shared responsibilities between the Company and its customers to enhance electricity service delivery across its franchise states.
“This forum provides a vital platform for open dialogue, allowing us to listen to our customers’ concerns, share service improvement plans, and collectively explore innovative solutions,” he said.
In a presentation titled “Safety Around JED Plc Installations and Your Safety, the Company’s Safety Representative, Mr. Terso Suswan, discussed the causes of electrical accidents, violations of the Right of Way, and emergency protocols.
He provided customers with the company’s emergency contact channels for swift response during safety incidents.
JED staff who spoke on other topics outlined the negative impact of meter tampering and vandalism reminding the public that the whistle blowing policy is still in place.
On her part, the Acting Head Corporate Communications, Mrs. Saratu Aliyu Dauda, unveiled the Debt Validation and Discount Promo.
According to her: “Customers opting to pay installments after debt validation are eligible for a 25% discount while those who pay off their total outstanding debt in full will receive a 30% discount”
Dauda also urged landlords to regularly audit their tenants’ electricity bill payments, emphasizing that electricity accounts are tied to properties, not individual tenants.
She further revealed that the Company has introduced a technological advancement strategy aimed at improving customer convenience and communication known as the “WhatsApp Bill Distribution System”.
“Through this innovation, customers now receive their electricity bills in a graphically appealing design via WhatsApp.
“To access this service, customers are directed to upload their contact information through a link provided on the Company’s website”, She said.
Our correspondent reports that the event featured departmental presentations, including insights from the Metering Department, Revenue Protection Unit (RPU), Safety Unit, Customer Care and Corporate Communications Department.
