Electricity consumers in Onike Iwaya and Sabo areas of Lagos State have accused officials of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria of defrauding them through exorbitant bills.The residents said when they studied how the PHCN officials had been billing them and government-approved billing system, they discovered their bills had been deliberately increased.They expressed outrage that the bills were higher in months when they consumed less electricity due to power outtage.One of the residents, who identified himself simply as Adekola, said they had complained on many occasions to PHCN officials but the problem persisted. He said, "After complaining on many occasions, they sent an officer in March to read our meters with the hope that this will be reflected on the bill in April."We discovered that the bills they brought was outrageous, despite the fact that power supply was irregular."He said surprisingly, those who paid their bills promptly, were "punished" by being given inflated bills the next month. "The PHCN officials expect to be bribed whenever they come to disconnect electricity, they are not happy when they see that a particular customer is paying regularly, since they know such customer would not bribe them," Adekola said.The residents alleged that the PHCN officials collected bribe ranging between N1,000 and N2,000 from debtors, adding that the unwarranted act had generated tension in Onike and its environs.Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, queried the charges by the PHCN on power supply, adding that the officials should be investigated and punished if found culpable in the discharge of their duties.The resident said, "We are being billed for what we did not consume. For our own reading on PHCN meter from December 6, 2010, the meter read 01823 and as at April 12 this year, the reading was 02268, which means 445kwhr units were consumed over a period of four months."PHCN charges N8.90 per unit, which amounts to N3, 960.50 for the four months. Additional charges or fees apart from these include N245 per month for three-face meter and N1,019 per month for another fixed charge. This amounts to N1, 264 for monthly fixed charges. These add up to N5,056 in four months."If this is added to the initial N3, 960.50, the total charge or bill for the period of four months will be N9, 016.50. PHCN brought a bill of N21,756, which means we were surcharged by N12,740 between the period of December 6, 2010 and April 12, 2011."But the PHCN Public Relations Officer, Ijora Business Unit, Mr. Peter Adeyanju, who denied the allegations, blamed some consumers for playing into the hands of corrupt and dubious PHCN officials. Adeyanju said, "It takes two to tango and as you know, if there is no giver, there wont be one to take. Secondly, bills are given based on customers meter reading, but those whose meters are not accessible, are billed on estimate, based on average. "But now that electricity tariff is increased and supply improved, it is expected that there will be increase in customers bills. It is this situation some customers are finding difficulty to come to terms with."
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