The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has denied allegations by consumers that it had manipulated the factory settings of the new prepaid meters for more profit.
Its Head of Communications Dept., Mr Emeka Ezeh, made the denial in an interview with newsmen on Monday in Aba.
Ezeh said that the company did not have the technical capacity to reset such meters.
“This is not true, none of our staff has the expertise to reset or work on the meters because they are hybrid meters and smart in nature…except if the fellow is ready to damage the meter.
“The meters are approved and certified by Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA). The regulatory agency responsible for certifying meters before they are brought into the country and installed for consumers.
“It is also possible that there is a deliberate ploy by the company workers to discourage consumers from accepting the meters.
“Remember, if all consumers have prepaid meters, there won’t be need for the monthly disconnections except where a consumer had been found to have bypassed his meter.
“Some of our corrupt workers are already used to this monthly extortion of consumers who have not paid their bills and this prepaid meter will bring an end to that illegal act,” Ezeh said.
Ezeh called on consumers to report any of its staff found to have tampered with a prepaid meter for appropriate sanctions.
He said that the prepaid meters were designed to capture the quantity of energy consumed in a given period.
He counseled consumers to use energy-saving bulbs and low-power consuming appliances.
Ezeh said they should also turn off all electrical appliances when not in use, adding that learning to use electricity after being metered would help the consumer to save money.
