* Refuse to disclose total amount
By Achadu Gabriel -Kaduna
Kaduna Electric company said it’ll not refunds the over billed customers in cash, but used the amount to pay off customers outstanding debt, the company spokesman Abdulazeez Abdullahi has stated.
The company also stated that, its of no used disclosing the total amount of money owed customers in it franchise area as over billed since they’ve the data to make the refund.
The Head of corporate communication, Kaduna Electric Abdulazeez Abdullahi, disclosed this while exchanging views with our correspondent on Monday, saying over billed amount would be use to pay off customers outstanding debt with Electric.
Recalled that Kaduna Electric company, sanctioned for over billing its customers by Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and directed to refund the affected customers, had earlier issued a released of its readiness to make the refunds.
But, in a chat with journalists on Monday, the company explained that they have the data of those to be refunded, adding that, to enjoy the refund, customers must settle their outstanding debt.
On question of “Kaduna Electric has admitted guilt of over billing and set to refund customers. But they’re yet to disclosed the total amount of money to be refunded. To avoid fraudulently induced refunds, we need to know the total amount involved as you equally know the amount of debt, and already asking for the payment as owed by customers. Thanks
Abdulazeez said “Of what use is the total amount to you, sir? We have the data of those to be refunded. To enjoy the refund, customers must settle their outstanding debt”, he stated. Oga, it is not as if you are going to be given cash for the over billing. It is going to be used to pay off part of your debt, but you have to pay the remaining debt in full.
On alleged extortion and out come of company staff demanding for money upgrade prepared meter, that supposed to be free, he said there was no extortion yet.
On question on “So what is the company going do with the staff extortion reports of customers already on ground? Or were they remitting to the authority?
Electric said “Oga, calm down. No extortion here! Those meters have issues, which is why they are being asked to purchase tokens. The payment is not for the meter upgrade. Like i said, upgrade is fee.
Also on “A situation where the totality of over billing is much more than the outstanding debt?, the company could not respond till press time.
