The Consumer Protection Council has summoned all Electricity Distribution Companies in the country over allegations of outrageous bill leveled against them by electricity consumers.
The move became imperative after electricity consumers claimed that the distribution companies have been over billing them.
Making this disclosure via a statement on Monday, the council through a letter issued by the Director-General, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, informed the power firms to appear before CPC on Monday, September 7.
The statement said, “The Council, in response to numerous complaints of electricity consumers on estimated bill and non-provision of metres, issued the summon to each of the distribution companies, warning that absence by any of the companies at the hearing would be regarded as a violation of its enabling Act.
“The Federal Government’s apex consumer protection agency, in a letter dated August 26, 2015 and signed by its Director General, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, has fixed Monday, September 7, 2015 for the hearing on these issues.
“The agency, in its letter, stated that it has been inundated with complaints commonly referred to as ‘crazy bill’, by which Electricity Distribution Companies are alleged to arbitrarily determine consumption level of consumers of electricity and bill them accordingly.”
The statement further added that the council had received complaints that many consumers had paid for metres for periods spanning over 12 months, but were yet to be supplied same by their respective Discos.
The council in the statement hinted that, “Pursuant to these complaints, it has decided to commence investigation to enable your organisation as well as other Discos make representation and individually state your position regarding the said complaints, particularly as they affect consumers in the area of your coverage.
“You are, therefore, by this letter summoned to attend, make representation and submit a status report on the aforementioned complaints in your area of coverage, including any other document or evidence, to support your position at the hearing. It advised the companies to note that whether they attended the hearing or not, far reaching decisions, which may be of consequence to their operations, may be taken after the hearing.
“The council’s action is in line with the dictates of its mandate, which empowers it to provide speedy redress to consumer complaints, ensure that consumers’ interest received due consideration at appropriate forum and provide redress to obnoxious practices or the unscrupulous exploitation of consumers by companies, firms, trade association or individual,” it concluded.
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