Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDCO) issues strong warning of Blackout to Benue Residents over N81 billion debt
The people of Benue State may soon experience a total blackout as Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDCO) strategises on how to disconnect them over an N81 billion debt.
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Defaulting customers in Benue State have been advised to clear their outstanding bills or risk being disconnected.
JEDCO’s Managing Director, who was represented by Engr. Felix Adamu Shalzim, the State Operating Officer, said during a forum held in Benue, “Benue State’s monthly energy consumption stands at 33 million kilowatt-hours (KWH), valued at N3 billion, yet the company collects less than 30 percent of this amount in revenue.”
Shalzim also added, “A task force has been established to disconnect all defaulting customers, regardless of their status.”
Dauda Saratu Aliyu Dauda, Head of Corporate Communications, also added that the debt being owed to JEDCO could hinder its ability to distribute power effectively to Benue State.
Dauda said, “Yes, the debt owed to JEDCO poses a significant threat to our operations and investment in network upgrades. We urge customers to settle their bills to avoid service disruptions.”
While speaking at the forum, JEDCO officials also listed out safety guidelines for electricity consumers to follow to prevent any incident from occurring.
One such guideline was for customers to avoid building houses, shops, or offices under power lines and to install protective devices such as Earth Leakage Circuit Breakers (ELCB), Control Switches, and Change Switches.
Customers were also advised not to engage in illegal tampering of their meters or the power network, or else they risk facing legal consequences.
Edwin Omenka, JEDCO’s Revenue Protection Unit Supervisor, issued a strong warning against meter tampering, stating, “Anyone caught tampering with prepaid meters will face severe penalties, as they will not tolerate energy theft in any form.”
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