By Gabriel Udeh, kaduna
Kaduna Electricity distribution company (KADECO) has denied collecting money from consumers as registration for prepaid meters that supposed to be install free.
This is contrary to the allegation levelled against the company of collecting N500 each from consumers as registration fees for prepaid meter by several customers during question and answer session of the customer engagement forum held at Sardauna memorial centre in Kaduna state
Making the denier in an interview at the forum organized by Nextier power in collaboration with electric, and supported by MacArthur foundation,, Head unit media and community relations the public relations officer of Kaduna Electric, Mr Idrs Mohammed said the report was based on allegation.
He however admitted that a customer made the allegation, but was nowhere to be found for further investigation that would uncovered the company staff who demanded for the money.
He explained that Kaduna Electric was aware of the allegations which has not been proved or verified, describing it as unfounded.
Earlier, the national secretary network for electricity consumers Advocacy for Nigeria, Mr Uket O, said they were in Kaduna in collaboration with the Nextier power to carryout “Nigeria light improvement through education (NLITE),engagement Forum with Kaduna Electric on the current development in the market. He explained that the regulatory body had earlier approved tariff categorization for the electricity distribution companies across the Federation into different Banks, ranging from A B C and D.
He further informed that they made series of presentation to NASS, presidency and host of others before approval for the free prepaid meters for Nigerians was admitted by the President.
A customer who gave his name as Abubakar Isah, who complained of crazy bills of N32,000, and accumulated to N600,000 for his residents alone, said the bank A, B, C and D tariff system itself, is a fraud since all the consumers feed from same energy line.
He however expressed satisfaction with the organizers of the engagement, adding that he’ll pursued the promised made to him by them until his problem resolved.
The question and answer session of the forum was dominated with complaint of arbitrary electricity bills and tariff increment by residents and consumers in kaduna and franchise states.