Residents of Jigawa State have opposed what they called the high electricity bills they recently received from the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), claiming that they cannot afford the increase when the power supply remains epileptic.
The residents, who received their power supply from KEDCO, which distributes electricity to Kano, Jigawa, Katsina and parts of Bauchi State, expressed anger and frustration at the increase in the estimated bill issued to them for the month of April, this year.
According to Ali Ahmadu, a community leader from Takur Quarters, the power supply from KEDCO in the state has been inconsistent for the past three to four months.
“This is the second time this year that KEDCO is over billing us above the charges we are supposed to pay for the period, despite the very poor power supply of electricity and persistent outages,” Ahmadu lamented.
Another resident, Malam Dayyabu Idris, of Limawa Quarters, said, “We’ve been facing this problem for a while now, and it’s getting out of hand. We have confronted the marketing managers and even approached KEDCO’s state headquarters office in Dutse, but they say there’s nothing they can do about it,” Idris said.
Other residents who also talked exclusively with our correspondent shared their bitter experiences with KEDCO’s over billing, as Suleiman Gwaram, of G9 Quarters said, “Last year, we faced a similar problem with KEDCO during the grid collapse, but they still charged us exorbitantly despite the blackout. Now, they’re doing it again, and it’s unacceptable.”
Aisha Umar from Godiya Miyetti Quarters, Dutse, added, “My family’s bill was N10,000 last month, but this month, it’s N26,000. I am not sure what we are paying for when we don’t have power for most parts of the month.”
Many of the residents argued that the bills are not reflective of the service they receive. “Some of us are being charged N17,000, N21,000, and even N28, 000 for a single room, despite the epileptic power supply,” said Sani Muhammad from Takur Aduwa Quarters.
This development has forced the residents to call for government’s intervention in addressing the issue as the claimed that they cannot pay the high bill issued to them.
A renowned Jigawa-based activist, Comrade Shu’aibu Kafingana, while commenting on the development, stated that the issue has sparked widespread outrage among Jigawa residents, who are demanding justice and fairness in their dealings with KEDCO.
The activist highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in the electricity distribution sector, calling for a more customer-centric approach, where their concerns would be heard and addressed promptly.
Responding to the residents’ claim, KEDCO’s spokesperson, Sani Bala, attributed many of the customers’ complaints of overbilling to ignorance of the billing system.
“Some of our customers don’t understand the billing system, and this leads to unnecessary complaints,” Bala said.
“Our billing system is based on approved methodologies by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). The bill issued to customers is for the previous month’s consumption,” Bala clarified.
On claims of epileptic power supply, Bala said, “We have had some repair work on our facilities, but the power supply has already returned to normal in some areas. We will soon complete the repairs, and the supply will be stabilised.”
Bala also hinted that KEDCO is working to provide 80-90% of its customers with meters before the end of 2025, which he believes will reduce billing disputes.
“Once we meter our customers, they will have a clearer understanding of their consumption, and disputes over billing will decrease,” he said.
