Consumers and Jos Electricity Firm in Dispute Over Alleged Illegal Bills and Technical Glitches
Electricity consumers across the franchise states of Bauchi, Benue, Gombe, and Plateau, served by the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDCO), have raised serious concerns about being shortchanged, with allegations of illegal debts being allocated to their profiles. The situation has persisted for several days, prompting widespread frustration among customers who rely on the utility for their daily power needs.
Consumer Complaints Highlight Vending and Debt Issues
Many customers have reported experiencing significant discrepancies when purchasing electricity units. For instance, Abubakar Usman, a resident of Bauchi on a Band A feeder, recounted that after recharging his prepaid meter with N5,000, he received only 4.5 units of electricity instead of the expected 22.5 units. Similarly, Aisha Umar in Bauchi expressed confusion when her meter, which had no prior debt for seven years, suddenly displayed an outstanding debt of N15,000, despite never receiving estimated bills since moving into her home.
On social media platforms, particularly the official Facebook page of Jos Disco, users like Lucy Jiksim have publicly demanded explanations for unexpected debts showing on their meters. Another user shared a frustrating experience where an attempt to buy N5,000 worth of electricity was hindered by a N4,000 outstanding debt, resulting in only N1,000 worth of power being credited.
Company's Response and Debt Recovery Strategy
In response to these complaints, Saratu Aliyu, the Head of Customer Service at JEDCO, stated that the company's systems are functioning properly, with no issues detected in the vending portal. She emphasized that customers with genuine concerns should report any glitches to the nearest JEDCO offices within the franchise states for resolution.
Aliyu explained that the complaints about debts primarily involve customers with outstanding balances. The company has recently implemented a debt recovery strategy, where customers owing below N1 million will have their debts spread over time, with a monthly charge of N2,000. She advised affected consumers to visit desk officers to review their profiles and resolve debt-related issues promptly.
Additionally, Aliyu assured that JEDCO remains available for vending on all mobile and financial applications, countering claims that the company had disappeared from such platforms. The ongoing dispute highlights the challenges in balancing consumer rights with utility management in Nigeria's electricity sector.
