- Seek Tariff Hike Review, Applaud Improved Services
BY EDNA EMENI
IN order to promote transparency, improve revenue generation and ensure efficient energy use, the Band Mode of payment for electricity consumption was introduced in Nigeria. This band system, therefore, replaced the Estimated Billing System that was largely criticized for being unfair and inaccurate._
However, overtime, the extent to which the new system of billing customers for electricity consumption has been met with challenges. While some say, electricity supply has greatly improved, some others allege discrimination and exploitation of customers by electricity service providers. Some also claim that they have had to adjust their electricity consumption pattern in order to survive the exorbitant tariff they have to live with monthly._
It is on the strength of this that The Pointer went out to sample the views of electricity consumers in Delta State and beyond. Their responses are revealing and exciting….
Narrating his experience, Barr. Victor Akatugba, resident in Warri but was initially on Band B, but now on Band A said on phone, “My Estate was on band B. The light was stable and Ok and the tariff was between M15, 000 and 22,000 a month, depending on my usage. But after a while, BEDC switched us to Band A. The light is very stable to the extent that you would almost beg for it to be taken
In my house, what we do in order to save cost and minimize consumption, is to switch off the fridge and freezer every morning, then switch them on in the evening because the tariff we pay is as from N35,000 a month. Last month, I paid N45, 000. So, if not for the tariff, the Band A is very good.
“We don’t think of using generator anymore, or buy fuel for generator. N5, 000 fuel can last us for a very long time.
“Also, we switch off our light most of the times. But as for me, the band B was better because the tariff was not as high as Band A, and the light was constant too”.
“I have compared the Band tariff system to the use of power generating set. The Band is better, cheaper, and more reliable. There were times N5, 000 fuel will finish in one day when we use generator, even sometimes, half a day.
“The generator cannot power all our appliances at the same time, hence, we put some off. But with the Band A or B, we are free to run all our appliances at the same time because of the high voltage supplied daily.”
“In order to save current and reduce our tariff, we sometimes switch off heavy duty appliances. For example, when pumping water, we switch off our freezer. When ironing, we don’t pump water or use water heater.
“The Band A is also organized in such a way that I don’t know if it’s the same everywhere, but yes, they don’t just come and cut your light off without notice for not paying your bill. When they plan to come, they send WhatsApp messages to people here, telling them the date they’ll come to disconnect those who haven’t paid. So they give you warning.
“When there is a fault with the light, you can call BEDC. They’ll explain what the problem is and then come to fix it. Once they tell you they’ll fix it, in a few days, they would be on ground to keep their promise.
“Honestly, we’ve never been without light for up to three days in one go. The longest is usually a day or a day and a half. If it’s up to two days, then you know there is a serious fault. But they’ll still fix it as soon as the fault is rectified, so you can have light again. The service is very good.
“The only challenge is the payment — we even had to complain that the tariff was too high. They told us that if we don’t want light, we can simply remove our fuse. Apart from that, everything is working fine.
“When my wife tells some people about the stable light, for example, her tailor, she would comes to our house to iron her clothes because there’s no light in her own area.
“Sometimes her tailor doesn’t even believe that it is BEDC light because we are always having light, unlike what it used to be.
“Anytime you come to our house, there’s always light. If there isn’t, then it means there’s a fault somewhere or they’re carrying out maintenance. But generally, there’s always light,” he added.
Sharing his own experience with The Pointer, Mr Christian Nwaobodo, the Chief Executive Officer of Smkinpes Ltd, a plastic production company in Asaba, the Delta State Capital said, “I’m in Band A. When I was on Estimated Billing, I was spending between five to seven million naira monthly for electricity. BEDC on its own moved me to Band A. I did not ask for it. Although, now that I’m in Band A, the light is regular, compared to when I was on Estimated Billing as I get up to 20 hours of light in a day. But the problem is, I’m now spending about N24m monthly. I am appealing to BEDC to consider a reduction in the billing because, it is negatively telling on our cost of production at the end of the day.
The light now is regular; we are honestly enjoying the light, but the bill is outrageous in the present day economy of Nigeria. Electricity is not the only factor in our production. We buy raw materials, pay for accommodation, pay tax, pay staff salaries and even repairs of machineries.”
Also shearing his own experience, a prominent business man who runs a Eatery in Benin City, but prefers to be anonymous, spoke on phone, saying, he runs his business on Band A. Though the light is very constant with good voltage, the Tariff at the end of the month is killing his business. “A large chunk of my profit goes to payment of electricity bill. Honestly, it’s terrible and discouraging.”
“What I do in order to save cost is to ensure that whatever electrical appliance that is not adding value to our operations is put off. I have properly instructed my workers on how to effectively manage electricity in order to reduce waste. But honestly, the Tariff is on the very high side and it is negatively affecting my business and the overall cost of service to our customers.
“Secondly, in order to keep the business afloat, we have devised a means of spreading the cost of the tariff on our services and products, such that our customers who pay are part of those who bear the burden. This is the way to keep us in business and still provide good and quality services, food and drinks to our teaming customers in Benin.
“But let me say here that, government should come to the aid of those of us doing business in this country by helping us to cut down on the cost of electricity tariff and other cost of production.
“Electricity is only one factor in our services or operations in my business outfit, and it is on a every high side to pay for it. There are other factors that we need to pay for. For example, we pay Tax, we pay ground rent, we pay for signage, and we pay salaries and spend a lot of money on VAT and maintenance. All these costs are a big burden to us. So we need government assistance.”
A friend of mine, based in Lagos, Maureen Okpara, while telling her own experience with the new electricity Band on phone has this to say: “My sister, I dey band A which is a fast jet. I recharge N5,000 every four days but the good thing is that there is always light. So in a month I use between N35,000 and N45,000 worth of electricity.
“I tell you, it has not been easy at all, particularly in this hard economy. Everything is costly in the market. Now the cost of electricity has been added. Only God will save us in this country.
“ Even, at between N35,000 and N45,000 a month is because we have devised a way of managing the light. We don’t put on any electrical appliance except it is necessary, apart from light and fan, and that is when the weather is hot. When we want to leave the house we make sure that we switch off everything.
“My sister that is how we are managing electricity in my house. Maybe the rich can conveniently afford to pay the high tariff every month, but for us, the middle class; it is not easy at all. We are just managing. This is the season of electricity management for poor Nigerians, my sister. It is well, even in the well o!”
And for another friend, Tene, a private school teacher also based in Lagos, she says on phone: “I don’t even know the Band that I belong to. But for all I know, #5,000 gives me 100 kilowatts.
I spend an average of #8,000 monthly on electricity. I cook with electricity. It powers my deep freezer. I use washing machine.
“My people, I get value for my money. When I hear people talk of BAND and the huge amount they pay weekly or monthly, I just feel that mine is a miracle because, I can’t afford to pay that much for electricity. Not when I have other bills to pay. These are difficult times my sister in this country, and at times like this we are all managing. Imaging, if I have to add such high electricity tariff I hear people pay to my other bills, how would I have survived. God, please help your children o!
However, a civil servant and Landlord resident in Asaba but craved anonymity has this to say: “Although, the electricity supply has improved considerably in recent times in my area, the maladministration and exploitative tendencies of BEDC still persist.
The problem of fraudulent inflation of electricity bills of houses it refuses to supply pre-paid meters to, through estimated billing, is worrisome. The categorization of supplies through Bands is discriminatory and exploitative.
Agreed that those on 33KVA are paying more than those banded on 11KVA, Nigerians are supposed to, and are legally required to enjoy a non-discriminatory and flat charges for electricity consumption.
Sometime ago, we made attempts to migrate from 11KVA to 33KVA but were denied because BEDC insisted that we may need to acquire a fresh meter that can match 33KVA consumption.
Many of us have, therefore, been denied access to 33KVA due to exorbitant charges, cost of meters, non-availability of meters due to artificial scarcity created by BEDC to enable them continue with inflation of bills. Also, Lack of adequate control of DISCOs by regulatory agencies, refusal to take the responsibility of supplying transformers to areas or communities that need them, refusal to maintain transformers provided by consumers by pushing the responsibility to them or they stay for weeks, months, or years without light is another challenge.
Yet another Public Servant in Ogbeozoma Quarters of Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, who craved anonymity, said: “I’m on Band A and live in a 3- bedrooms flat. I spend between N35, 000 and N40, 000 on Tariff monthly.
Some person’s in Ogbeozoma Community for now claim to be in charge of the light, for reason I don’t know. So they decide what amount to pay at the end of the month; no negotiation.
For me I find this exploitative. The tariff is too high for me because I’m a Public Servant and I don’t have heavy electrical appliances that consume current. Therefore, there is no justification for such a high tariff at the end of the month. I appeal to BEDC to do something about this.
However, many of us in the area are making efforts to get pre-paid meters but up till now it has not been possible.
Asked why some person’s in the Community are alleged to be in charge of the light and billing of customers, he alleged that they claim that they were instrumental to providing the funds for procuring the transformer, and not until they are able to recover the money spent, they would not transfer the responsibility of collection of tariff to BEDC.
