For years and counting , the battle between residents and the energy DISCOShas continued .
Residents of Mile 2 and even Festac Town have complained bitterly about the outrageous billing by the energy DISCOS given to them.
This is due to the estimated billing system by the energy distribution companies serving the areas.
In this bid, the President General, Amuwo Odofin Landlords and Residents Association, Mile 2, Lagos Chief Ade-Owas Owabumuwa, has urged the NASS should as a matter of urgency pass a bill to curb the excesses of DISCOs.
According to him, estimated billing is killing consumers and that the DISCOs are using it to exploit customers.
“We have protested to Ikeja Electric offices here in Amuwo and Ikeja so that they can stop this estimated billing method and give us prepaid meters but they continued to promise us.
“They kept on increasing the bills monthly and if customers complain, they will threaten to cut your power supply from the pole.
“We are tired of estimated billing, how can Ikeja Electric install a meter on transformer and use the reading from the meter to bill all customers in a community, this is unjustifiable.
“A widow who stays in a room self contain pays N12, 000 while a man with his family of five who lives in a three-bed room flat using all electrical appliances pays the same amount.
“Whether there is electricity supply or not, the monthly bill is always on the high side. Enough is enough, this billing must stop now,” he said.
Just last month , youths and residents in Mile 2 protested against estimated bills from IKEDC but yet no results.
NAN reported that the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on April 20 warned that there would be chaos in the power sector if the NASS criminalised estimated billing.
According to National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, a regulation that deals with estimated billing already exists in the power sector, stressing that another law on the matter may lead to a complete disorder in the industry.
NAN also reports that the House of Representatives recently commenced moves to outlaw estimated billing of consumers by DISCOs.
The presentation of a bill was sponsored by the House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, which sought to prohibit the issuance of such bills to consumers across the country.
The Chairman and other electricity consumers in Lagos have urged the National Assembly to pass the bill criminalising estimated billing by Distribution Companies (DISCOs).
According to them, DISCOs are feeding fat on un-metered customers through estimated billing.
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