Residents of Jigawa State are protesting the high electricity bills issued by the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), citing that they are unaffordable given the inconsistent power supply. The residents, who receive their electricity from KEDCO (serving Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, and parts of Bauchi State), have expressed their frustration with the inflated bills for April.

Ali Ahmadu, a community leader from Takur Quarters, noted that the power supply has been erratic for the past three to four months. He stated that KEDCO has been overbilling residents despite the poor electricity supply and frequent outages. Another resident, Malam Dayyabu Idris from Limawa Quarters, mentioned that confronting marketing managers and KEDCO’s state headquarters in Dutse has been ineffective.

Other residents shared similar experiences of overbilling. Suleiman Gwaram, of G9 Quarters, recalled a similar issue during a previous grid collapse when they were charged exorbitantly despite the blackout. Aisha Umar from Godiya Miyetti Quarters, Dutse, reported her family’s bill jumped from N10,000 to N26,000 in one month, despite not having power for most of the month. Many residents claim the bills do not reflect the actual service received, with some being charged between N17,000 to N28,000 for a single room.

The residents are calling for government intervention to address the issue, stating that they cannot afford the high bills. Comrade Shu’aibu Kafingana, a Jigawa-based activist, highlighted the widespread outrage among residents, demanding justice and fairness from KEDCO. He emphasized the need for transparency and a customer-centric approach in the electricity distribution sector.

In response to these claims, KEDCO’s spokesperson, Sani Bala, attributed the complaints to customers’ lack of understanding of the billing system. He clarified that the billing is based on approved methodologies by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and reflects the previous month’s consumption. Bala acknowledged the repair work affecting power supply but assured that it is returning to normal in some areas and will soon be stabilized. He also mentioned that KEDCO aims to provide 80-90% of its customers with meters by the end of 2025, which should reduce billing disputes by providing a clearer understanding of consumption.