Jos Electricity Company Debunks Reports On Tariff Hike

BY CHAMBERLAIN ODEY, JOS – The Management of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company, JED Plc, has debunked claims making the rounds especially in new internet-based media that the organisation has increased its charges for provision of electricity to consumers contrary to the regulator’s position.
The organisation has also frowned at, ant taken exception to similar negative framing that it is charging foe electricity distributed to its customers of different categories above the rates approved by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive of JED Plc, Mohammed Modibbo Gidado during a press conference dismissed the reports as baseless, unfounded, and untrue, insisting that the organisation is a responsible corporate citizen not just doing legitimate business of power distribution, but conducting its business with all sense of
responsibility, and within the ambit of the law.
He explained that the tariff being charged all over the country is the same one approved by the regulatory agency since 2015, and can only be reviewed after a definite period and meaningful engagement with
stakeholders.
He pointed out that tariffs as regulated by NERC for 2017 range between N28.17 and N34.40 for the different Discos covering Jos, Abuja, Benin, Enugu, Ibadan, Kano, Ikeja, Eko, Yola, and Port Harcourt zones, and that since last year there has been no upward review of tariffs
Gidado however lamented and regretted the activities of saboteurs who indulge in illegal connection, stealing of transformers, and vandalizing power installation within the area of its operation, saying this is most discouraging and disappointing because the situation is subsisting in spite of its awareness campaigns and constructive community engagement.
Gidado said the imperative of passing the ownership of Power Holding Company to private citizens has been to step up its efficiency as a private sector driven concern making power constantly available for national development, and also assist government in narrowing the unemployment gap in the national economic index.
Reminding consumers that it is proper and responsible to electricity and that it is dangerous to indulge in sharp practices because of the watch of the law, he also called on consumers to cooperate with the organization by reporting the activities of saboteurs to the security
agencies.