AEDC meets with LUM, blames drop in power supply on low allocation »

LUM queries rise in billing despite drop in power supply

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has explained that the recent drop in electricity supply to customers in Kogi state is as a result of low load allocated to the company.

This disclosure was made in Lokoja Thursday during a meeting between the management of AEDC Kogi region and the leadership Light Up Movement group.

The AEDC Regional Manager, Mr Danladi Baba said the meeting became imperative in order to inform stakeholders and indeed the general public on the recent load-shedding, especially as it it happening few months into the well acknowledged constant power supply by the company.

He revealed that the drop in the energy allocated to it by the System Operator (SO) in recent times, follows the recent huge drop in national power generation.

The Disco, however, assured that all concerned players in the value chain were already working on the system with a view to restoring normal supply as quickly as possible.

While assuring that it will always distribute the load allocated to it by the System Operator as it is impossible to store electricity, the AEDC management appealed for the understanding of its customers

He however, reiterated its appeal for understanding and assured that it would continue to optimise its load-shedding scheme to ensure that all its customers were given fair consideration in the distribution of energy allocated to it. He urged prompt payment of electricity bills by consumers.

Reacting, the Chairman of Light Up Movement Comrade Iliyasu Zakari commended the AEDC for convening the meeting at such a time as consumers are already asking to know the cause of the sudden change in power supply. He however urged the company to improve in information dissemination through the media.

Iliyasu said LUM acknowledges the drop in allocation as it has been following updates from the national platform, but quarried the rise in bills despite the drop in supply as confirmed by the company.
“In past few months when customers enjoyed improved power supply with some areas getting 24 hours supply, the bill increased and Light Up Movement joined in the advocacy for payment, since allocation has dropped and supply has also dropped, it is natural that billing of consumers should also reflect the changes.

“There is no logical explanation to give any customers that light supply have deteriorated but the bills continue to rise. This we believe is capable of causing serious chaos and unrest.” he added.

The group urged the company to look into its billing system to ensure that customers are not charged for products that they didn’t consume. They also called on AEDC to expand its metering, increase vigilance against prepaid meter bypass and energy theft so as to minimize the burden on postpaid customers.

LUM suggested transformer metering as another possible solution to increasing bills with some communities in Lokoja marked for the pilot testing.