Electricity consumers in Kano have called for the intervention of the National Assembly in the issue of outrageous bills allegedly being served them by the Kano Electricity Distribution Company.
At a zonal interactive session with the House of Representatives ad hoc committee looking into excessive electricity charges being levied on consumers, the consumers called for the immediate revocation of the licences of the distribution companies nationwide.
Besides, the enraged consumers opposed the billing system introduced by the firm.
A consumer, Yunusa Murtala, who spoke at the gathering, accused KEDCO of supplying faulty meters to its customers, resulting in the accumulation of high bills, noting that the alleged illegal practice had made it extremely difficult for consumers to understand the authentic billing system.
Another consumer, Mallam Abubakar Dangora, also decried excessive tariffs being allegedly imposed by KEDCO on customers in the rural communities, especially those with low power consuming appliances.
Earlier, Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Israel Ajibola, had said the House decided to organise interactive sessions in the six geopolitical zones of the country to ascertain allegations against power firms.
He listed the allegations to include excessive billing, refusal to meter customers while preferring estimated billing, non-compliance with the connection/reconnection regulations and installation of manipulated pre-paid meters.
Frowning on the poor representation of the power firm at the interactive session, Ajibola insisted that KEDCO would be considered as not represented at the forum.
He said, “The choice of Kano for the North-West interactive session was based on its flourishing commercial enterprising status. As we all know, steady power supply is a prerequisite for overcoming poverty, economic growth, development and attaining reasonable standard of living.
“One of the major achievements of these interactive sessions across the nation is to forestall the looming breakdown of law and order in the country.”
According to him, the committee’s recommendation will determine the House of Representatives’ position on the bill sponsored by its Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, to criminalise estimated billing.