BEDC charges customers N50, 000 for prepaid meter

By Johnmark Ukoko

Despite the Federal Government warning to the Local Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to provide pre paid meter to their customers free of charge, investigation by Gentechnews at Ughelli, Delta state, showed that the Benin City Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) are charging the residents of the area the sum ofN50, 000 for a one phase meter.

A resident of the area Mr. Ferdinand Okposo in a chat with our correspondent said he recently applied for three pre paid meter, he was charged N150, 000.

“My brother pre-paid meter is not free. I applied for three pre – paid meters for my newly constructed apartments. I was asked by BEDC’s officials to pay N50, 000 each for the three meters. I needed for my house. I have paid the money for about three weeks now, yet I have not been supplied,” he said.

He disclosed that some of his friends who also apply for their pre paid meters were even asked to pay more than N50, 000 per one.

“I have a friend who is based in Warri who applied to the same company for a pre paid meter in Warri, Delta State, he was asked to pay N70, 000. I don’t know why this is so, maybe, because Warri is an oil city,” he stated.

Another respondent, Mr. Jerry Etor who is based in Benin City in a telephone interview disclosed that he paid for the meter recently installed in his self contain apartment.

Etor disclosed that he paid the sum of N 50,000 in November 2020 to get the meter due to the frustration of paying “estimated bills” for the nonexistent power supply from BEDC Company.

“For years, BEDC has been exploiting us in Edo, Delta and Ondo State. They will bring crazy bills for the light not supplied. I had to apply in August 2020, for a pre – paid meter. I was asked to pay the sum ofN50, 000, and was supplied the meter few weeks ago,” he disclosed.