Due to the arbitrary imposition of estimated billing on energy consumers in Ogwuashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, a two-week ultimatum has been issued to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) by the Beacon Club to resolve the issue or face legal action.
The club which is a non-governmental organisation, threatened that if BEDC failed to address the issues at the expiration of the ultimatum, it would seek an order from the court, declaring the imposition of the estimated electricity bill on consumers in the community as null and void.
It stated that an order compelling BEDC to compute and refund all charges of electricity bills collected from consumers to provide and install pre-paid meters in the community would be sought.
The club also vowed to perpetually stop BEDC from disconnecting consumers in Ogwuashi-Uku for non-payment of electricity bills until the provision of pre-paid meters. They are also seeking damages of N5 billion in the suit, should the electricity company fail to comply with the pre-action notice.
The ultimatum which contained in a letter, on behalf of the club, by Henry Tobechukwu Ogidi of the Law Office of HT Ogidi, is coming as electricity consumers in the ancient community are expressing dissatisfaction with the abysmal supply of electricity, claiming that a situation where it has become difficult to see light in the morning hours in the area does not augur well for residents.
Most residents faulted the midnight power supply between 2am and 5am by BEDC virtually every day even as they have stopped a total of six hours of daily supply.
“Of what use will they give us light at midnight? Even now the weather is cold. When people need light most, BEDC will not give us.
“Several parts of the community don’t have transformers. Bills are outrageous. We demand that the company improves on its operations,” Mr Azuka Onyeka, a retired civil servant laments.
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