By Sade Adewale, Ondo
Residents of Ondo City have expressed dissatisfaction over the huge bills officials of the Benin City Electricity Distribution Company, (BEDC), charge them as a result of lack of prepaid meters.
The Hope Metro gathered that the affected residents lamented paying huge bills, following the introduction of paper bills which they said have put them in fear whenever BEDC officials were raiding.
The residents told our correspondent that instead of giving each house prepaid meters, the officials only ptovided bulk meter for all the houses.
It was learnt that with the bulk meter used by all residents in the community, each house pays between N6,000 to N8,000 every month.
Besides, each house in the community is also levied N12,000 for what BEDC called ‘security deposit.’
They complained that they pay the compulsory security deposit, whether there is electricity supply or not.
Some of the affected areas include all communities along Laje road, some parts in the Odosida area and Oka among others.
A landlord in one of the communities, Mr Ariyo Igbekele, who spoke with our correspondent, hinted that, “BEDC refused to supply prepaid meters to our community, but gave us bulk meter in other to continue to exploit us.
“All residents contribute N6000 monthly, which amounts to over a million naira. And it is used to load the bulk meter. Sometimes, it doesn’t last more than two to three weeks.
Igbekele urged the federal government to checkmate the unlawful actions of the electricity company.
Also a resident, Mr Mercy Akinyosonu lamented over the high bills given to them by BEDC, saying they are the ones receiving the money they make for a month. And this is affecting our homes and businesses.