The Jos Electricity Distribution Plc (JED) has assured customers who purchase prepaid electricity meters from accredited vendors that they will be refunded in due time, citing financial limitations as a major barrier to the widespread issuance of free meters.
This commitment was made public during a three-day town hall meeting organized by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in Bauchi State, focused on enlightening consumers about their rights, obligations, and how to address complaints related to electricity services.
Speaking at the forum, Mamman Umar, Acting Managing Director of JED, stated that while the company remains committed to its mass metering initiative launched in 2021, the cost burden has slowed progress.
“Metering all our customers is our goal, but we cannot do it all at once due to the capital-intensive nature of the programme. Customers who can’t wait for our free meters can purchase them through approved vendors. Rest assured, we will refund them gradually,” Umar said.
He reiterated that electricity tariffs are uniform nationwide, and the current band classification system is being implemented across all Distribution Companies (DisCos).
The town hall meeting also revealed that only 27% of JED’s customers—233,481 out of over a million—have been metered, leaving a staggering 859,323 customers (73%) still relying on estimated billing, which the company acknowledged as problematic.
In response to customer concerns, JED’s Operations Officer in Bauchi, Dr. Abubakar Ibrahim, attributed recent service disruptions to weather conditions, particularly heavy rains that caused infrastructure damage:
“As of June 26, 30 electricity poles have collapsed in Bauchi, Ningi, and Dass LGAs due to torrential rainfall. Replacing them requires cranes and heavy equipment, which are costly,” he explained.
Community representatives also participated in the dialogue. Alhaji Lawal Babama’aji, representing the Bauchi Emirate Council, urged JED and NERC to enhance community engagement and ensure quick resolution of service complaints. He emphasized how erratic power supply hampers small businesses, urging improved cooperation between consumers and electricity providers.
He also called on electricity users to pay their bills regularly and comply with usage guidelines to aid JED’s service delivery goals.
The town hall meeting closed with renewed commitments from both JED and NERC to strengthen customer satisfaction, improve metering efforts, and curb staff misconduct, as JED encouraged consumers to report any form of exploitation.
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