News reaching ViewPointNigeria indicates that the Plateau Residents for Peace and Development led a peaceful protest to the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED) in Jos on Thursday to express their grievance towards the outrageous and indiscriminate estimated billing system among others ongoing in the State.

The residents gathered at the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED) Headquarters, carrying Placards and banners as they asked the Company to reduce the billing rates or else the protests will continue. The protest which was led by the Plateau Residents for Peace and Development included :the Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, and community leaders in the city.

Speaking at the JED Headquarters a member of a civil society organisation, Mr. Steve Aluko, said the protest was to call the attention of relevant authorities to the indiscriminate billing and provision of uncalibrated meters, which read leakages leading to exorbitant billing of customers.

He said: “It is gross injustice for residents of Plateau State to pay higher electricity tariff than those of other states. Even when we do not have power supply, we still pay higher for what is not consumed. “If other states can have it cheaper, what makes Plateau different? States like Bauchi charges N17; Kaduna, N19; Lagos, N15; Abuja N18 and Jos N29.

He added that JEDC entered people’s houses without prior notice to remove their pre-paid meters in exchange for fake meters even when many others do not even have meters.”

Responding, Senior Manager Planning and Network Expansion, Engr. Mansur Nakande, assured that the management will look into the issues raised.

On the issue of high tariff, Nakande said, “Some of this tariff, honestly I don’t know where this my comrade got that information, but what I have from the regulator, is not the same with yours.

“Out of the eleven companies that cover the entire federation, Abuja has N24, Kaduna N27.4, Kano N25, Yola N25.7, Jos N29.8, Port Harcourt h N30.2, Benin N31.27, Eko N22.3, Ibadan N24.97, Ikeja N21.1 and Enugu has N30.93.

He added that, contrary to reports that the distribution of meters is only ongoing in Plateau, the organization has also commenced distribution of meters in Bauchi, Gombe and Benue States.

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Plateau Residents Protest High Electricity Tariff, Fake Meters