Jos Disco Threatens Court Action Against Energy Thieves

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Jos Electricity Distribution Company Plc, has threatened to prosecute consumers engaged in the habit of bypassing meters, describing them as energy thieves who want to consume energy without paying for it, and should be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

Managing Director of the company, Alhaji Gidado Modibo, who stated this yesterday at a press conference in Jos, also disclosed that the company has commenced mass metering of its customers in all the four states within its area of coverage (Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe and Benue), adding that “we have already installed about 26,000 of them, and we aim to install another 40,000 in the next week.”

Modibo reassured that the meters are well calibrated and certified by Nigeria Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA).

He said, “Our meters are well calibrated and certified; the Nigeria Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) has tested all our meters and have given us the mandate to continue with our mass metering exercise.”

Earlier, during a recent Customers Consultative Forum, the MD had said that the company was targeting about one million customer data-base in the four states by the end of 2018 from the current 472,000.

He said, “We have held customer consultative forum meetings with all stakeholders, including community leaders and traditional rulers, and we are determined to serve our customers better.

“The customer consultative forum is sine qua non to the development of customer service relationship, and generally electricity supply to our esteemed customers.

“Our strategy is to ensure extensive consultation with our customers to enable us receive first hand feedback on effective provision of services with the view of improving customers satisfaction.”

He said Jos Disco had in the past three years set up a diligent 24-hour customer service centre through which its customers could reach out to the company’s customer service representatives to lodge their complaints, even at night hours.

Calling for cooperation and understanding on the part of customers, promising that it was prepared to serve them better, Modibo however warned that “we have partnered security operatives with a view to arresting and prosecuting those that are bent on energy theft.” He also warned that the company was going to embark on aggressive disconnection of customers with outstanding bills.