A broad spectrum of electricity customers in Benue State has commended Jos Electricity Distribution Plc for delivering consistent, stable, and reliable services in the region. The accolades were expressed during a radio interactive program on Brothers FM, heralding the launch of a customer consultative forum in Gboko, the traditional capital of the Tiv nation. According to statement by Dr Friday Adakole Elijah, Head, Corporate Communications noted that His Royal Highness, Engr Ikpa Ahua, representing the paramount ruler of Gboko, led the commendations. He praised the company’s significant improvement in electricity supply over the past few months, noting its positive impact on local businesses. Engr Ahua also appreciated the company’s metering policy, which has increased access to prepaid meters for customers. However, he lamented the frequent cases of vandalism of electricity installations and pledged to intensify efforts to safeguard these facilities. Other dignitaries, including Prince Makir Zakpe, Kindred head of Gboko South, Zaki Amachi Terkimbi, and Zaki Linus, also commended the company’s efficient service. In his opening remarks, Pastor Emma Ameh who represented the Managing Director, Engr Abdu Bello Mohammed, urged customers to settle their energy bills promptly, given the improvements in service delivery. He emphasized the need for customers to fulfill their obligations to enable the company to continue meeting its energy delivery mandate. Presentations by Lucky Akpobi, Head of Customer Complaints and Relationship Management, and Comrade Ojochide Matthew Agbata, Regional Manager of Makurdi, highlighted the benefits of prepaid meters in resolving billing disputes. Dr. Friday Adakole Elijah, Head, Corporate Communications, emphasized the importance of vigilance in combating energy theft and vandalism, urging customers to report suspicious activities to the company or law enforcement agencies.”

The Management of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC), has cautioned its customers against making payments for installation of prepaid meters. It said customers within its network coverage in Bauchi, Gombe, Benue and Plateau should not make any form of payment for the installation as it was free of charge. Mr Nasir Faskari, the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) desk officer, JEDC franchise area, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Jos. Faskari urged customers to report any of its personnel who asked for fees for installation of the prepaid meter. He further said the process of acquiring a meter with the company, entailed the opening of an account to register the client’s details. “The procedure for acquiring meters doesn’t exceed 24 hours and it’s also free of charge.” According to him, the client is meant to have the form filled and stamped by a licensed electrical contractor who wired the house to certify that the wiring of the house or structure is up to standard. He pointed out that after the acquisition of the account with the company, the client is to subscribe to the Meter Asset Provider (MAP), a programme initiated by the Federal Government for customers who want to acquire meters. The officer said that a customer obtaining a single-phased meter would pay N 88,000 only, while a customer acquiring a three-phased meter was expected to pay N154,000 only. According to him, the company in a bid to be more proactive, ensures that the customer gets the prepaid meter within three days after making payment as they are readily available. He explained that the government had mandated the company to pay the customers for the meter, however, the company doesn’t give the clients the cash. “We give the cash to customers in the form of free energy tokens once every month, the customer vends until the N88,000 or N 154,000 is exhausted.” Faskari stated that in the eventuality the meters and vending monitors purchased under the MAP scheme got spoilt from no fault of the customer, and fell within the warranty period, the customer would have the meter or monitor replaced immediately at no cost. The officer disclosed that the meters had a warranty of 10 to 12 years. The MAP scheme commenced in April 2023 in Plateau.