Jos Disco is targeting a one million customer data base particularly in the Gombe states by the end of 2018. Currently their customer data base is at 472,000.
Relaunching of a vigorous metering programme in Plateau, Bauchi, Benue, and Gombe states is already underway. The Electricity Distribution Company has also issued a warning that it will not entertain any deliberate attempt to interrupt the programme.
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According to Alhaji Mohammed Gidado the Managing Director of JED, they have a go-ahead from the regulator to immediately disconnect any customer that refuses to go through with metering project. They therefore expect alot of cooperation.
He went on to warn that any customer stealing electricity by bypassing the meters will be taken to court. According to him they will no longer tolerate Electricity theft, which is a criminal offense.
Challenges
Mr. Gidado stated that one major challenge experienced by JED in its meter roll out programme was meter rejection by some customers. This is on the belief that the meters being deployed were not properly calibrated and were not certified by Nigerian Electricity Management. He was also glad to report that the issue is past tense as they took the meters to NEMSA certification center. Consequently this is where confirmation that the meters are functioning properly took place.
Mr. Ja’afaam Wuyep is the Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy. He represented Governor Simon Lalong, who commended JED for taking feedback from customers. He also added that they are a responsible government and they will not sit back and watch the people suffer.
Some members of the state House of Assembly, who spoke on behalf of their constituents, and other customers gave A myriads of complaints. This was regarding hiked billing, estimated billing, requests for customers to pay for transformers, electricity poles, and meters by JED.
