Jos Electricity Distribution Plc. (JED) says 50 transformers are vandalised in its coverage area daily.
JED’s head, customer care desk, Friday Akpopi, made the claim in Jos on Wednesday at the opening of a four-day forum organised by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
Day 1: Electricity Consumer Complaint Resolution Platform begins with a strong start at Crest Hotel & Gardens in Jos, Plateau State. You have until Saturday, October 28th, to be a part of the Platform and receive immediate responses to your electricity complaints. Day 2, loading…
“More than 50 transformers are vandalised on a daily basis in our coverage area. The hoodlums usually return to vandalise transformers two weeks after we have effected repairs.
One of the obligations of customers is to safeguard electrical installations in their domains. We are trying to talk to customers to monitor every transformer point in their communities,’’ he said.
Mr Akpopi added that as part of its statutory duties, JED was engaging communities in its coverage areas to foster robust community consultative forum in line with directives by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
He expressed hope that the action, taken in collaboration with security agencies and other stakeholders, would curb the theft of transformers and metres.
He also assured that the issue of power outages resulting from transformer vandalism would be addressed in no distant time.
He said metre vendors had been contacted to ensure the speedy installation of metres in the premises of customers on the waiting list.
In his remarks, the chief executive officer of FCCPC, Babatunde Irukera, said the intervention was organised following enormous complaints the commission had received on power-related issues.
Represented by the executive commissioner operations, Adamu Abdullahi, he explained that FCCPC, as the umbrella agency for consumer protection, organised the forum to provide a middle ground for all stakeholders.
He said relevant agencies in the power sector would interact with customers with the view of resolving complaints received.
He added that unresolved complaints within the four-day period of intervention in Jos would be given timelines for resolution.
“We will give the complainants the number of days or weeks they should expect their complaints to be resolved,” he said.
He assured that the intervention would be sustained as the commission was determined to ensure that the JED had a virile customer care unit to address customers’ complaints.
In her remarks, Kaneng Gwom, assistant general manager, customer service standards at the NERC, urged customers to acquaint themselves with NERC’s regulations so as to be aware of their rights.
Such knowledge, she said, would guide customers in taking appropriate actions.
FCCPC organised the forum with support from Mac Arthur Foundation, a development partner to address complaints of poor service made by JED customers.
It was organised to enable the FCCPC to discharge the function of its Electricity Complaint Resolution Platform established in 2021.
(NAN)