Energy Worth with Agency Report
Landlords and tenants of Alaba Oro, Mosafejo Amukoko, Abule Kere and Olaniyonu communities in Lagos, instituted a N50m suit against the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Eko Electricity Distribution Company PLC over estimated electricity billing. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has reported.
Raji Yusuf Olatunji, Omololu Sulaiman, Muritala Aloba, Tawakalitu Onisemo, Mogaji Suaibu, Oyelade Kolawole and Solomon filed the suit for themselves and on behalf of the members of Landlords and Tenants of Alaba Oro, Mosafejo Amukoko, Abule Kere and Olaniyonu community at a Federal High Court in Lagos
They initiated the action to express their displeasure over alleged extortion by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC).
In the suit marked, FHC/L/CS/1192/17, the claimants argued that the failure of the power firm to provide pre-paid meters, to members of their communities and the billing by estimation system adopted by EEDC, their communities were not charged appropriately to determine their consumption and hence the billing is arbitrary.
They also contended that EEDC had continued to bill their communities by estimation system, which is excessive and does not commensurate with electricity supplied and consumed by the consumers.
The communities informed the court that the EEDC imposes reconnection fee against any consumer who fails to pay within the month of billing and whose electricity supply is disconnected from the main source of electricity supply.
They insisted that EEDC deliberately and persistently refused to issue and deliver prepaid meter despite series of complaint, protest by the claimants while the extortionist arrangement continued against the claimants.
The communities are therefore, praying for an order directing EEDC to distribute pre-paid meter to all the members.
They also want an order of perpetual injunction restraining the 2nd defendant from issuing bills to any consumer in the communities without a prepaid meter.
They equally want the court to direct NERC to withdraw the provisional licenses issued to EEDC to distribute electricity to the community and provide alternative company in replacement.
