Benue residents risk total blackout over N81 billion debt to JEDCO

The Jos Electricity Distribution Plc (JEDCO) has called on its customers in Benue State to clear their outstanding electricity bills, which have risen to N81 billion, or face disconnection.

Engr. Felix Adamu Shalzim, the State Operating Officer, who represented the Managing Director, made the appeal during the Customer Consultative Forum held in Makurdi.

He revealed that, “Benue State’s monthly energy consumption stands at 33 million kilowatt-hours (KWH), valued at N3 billion, yet the company collects less than 30 percent of this amount in revenue.”

Shalzim noted that Benue State’s average monthly energy consumption stands at 33 million kilowatt-hours (KWH), valued at N3 billion, yet JEDCO collects less than 30 percent of the expected revenue.

He warned, “A task force has been established to disconnect all defaulting customers, regardless of their status.”

Confirming the development, Dauda Saratu Aliyu Dauda, Head of Corporate Communications, cautioned that failure to pay the debt would hinder JEDCO’s ability to deliver efficient service and could lead to power supply interruptions.

“Yes, the debt owed to JEDCO poses a significant threat to our operations and investment in network upgrades. We urge customers to settle their bills to avoid service disruptions,” she stated.

During the forum, JEDCO officials also provided vital safety guidelines. Customers were advised to avoid constructing buildings under power lines and to install protective devices such as Earth Leakage Circuit Breakers (ELCB), Control Switches, and Change Switches.

Additionally, residents were warned, “Do not hire unauthorized technicians to tamper with the power network, as this poses serious risks and legal consequences.”

Alhaji Umar, Head of Customer Care and Relationship Management, assured customers that, “we are committed to addressing all complaints promptly and encourage consumers to report issues via JEDCO’s official social media platforms.”

Barr. Abdullahi Adamu, Head of Regulatory Compliance, advised investors in electricity infrastructure, saying, “Anyone looking to invest in power distribution must strictly adhere to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC) guidelines on third-party investments.”

Meanwhile, Edwin Omenka, Supervisor of the Revenue Protection Unit, issued a strong warning against meter tampering, stating, “Anyone caught tampering with prepaid meters will face severe penalties, as JEDCO will not tolerate energy theft in any form.”