Some Electricity Consumers in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT have decried the transfer of their tariff to Band A even when they do not receive up to 20 hours of power supply daily.
In separate interviews with NAN on Tuesday, the consumers who reside in Kubwa, Lugbe and environs said their transfer to Band A by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC was unfair.
NAN reports that Band A customers are those who enjoy at least 20 hours of electricity daily and are expected to pay N209.5l/kilowatts hour (KWh).
Mrs Eniola Williams, a civil servant who resides in Kubwa said that she was shocked when she recharged her meter and was given 22.2 units for N5,000.
Williams said the area she lives in Kubwa hardly gets power supply of up to 9 hours a day.
“Why should I be paying for Band A services when I hardly get power supply for 9 hours a day? This is unfair and not acceptable.
“The first time I bought electricity and was given 22.2 units for N5,000, I thought it was a mistake until I bought again and found out the same thing happened.
“AEDC should look into this issue seriously because it is not right to be collecting money for services not rendered, ” she said.
Another consumer residing in the same area, Mr Moses Okoro said that AEDC was not doing the right thing by collecting money for services not rendered.
According to him, he recharged N2,000 and got just 8.2 units of electricity while he was not supposed to be on Band A with the hours of power supply to his area.
”Why should I be made to pay for the service of Band A when I don’t get power supply for up to 9 hours in a day? AEDC should check very well and do the right thing instead of billing people arbitrarily,” he said.
Another consumer residing in Lugbe, Mr Ernest Osagie said he recharged N10,000 and was given 44.4 units of electricity.
Osagie said when he saw the units and made inquiries from the neighbours in the same area, most of them said that they were still buying at the old tariff rate.
‘This is not fair at all, how can people in the same area and on the same transformer be paying different electricity tariffs to one power distribution company?
”I cannot understand the way the movement of consumers to Band A is taking place. So, AEDC should please look into the issue and make amends,” he said.
Mrs Bola Akinwale, residing in Lugbe also said that she recharged N2,000 and got 8.2 units of electricity.
According to her, the neighbours in the same compound were still on the old tariff, wondering why the movement to Band A should be selective.
DAILY POST reports that several communities in the Bwari Area Council, have registered their grievances over the sudden transfer to Band A.
Residents of most communities, especially the Ushafa area of the council, lamented that contrary to the claim by the AEDC, the community does not enjoy 20 hours of power supply.