Next to overestimated billings among hassles faced by electricity users in Nigeria are problems about transformers.
A careful study of the queries received from the reading public weekly shows that while about 55 per cent are cases involving crazy billings, 35 per cent are on transformer issues, while the remaining 10 per cent are on sundry electricity complaints.
Cases abound of communal efforts to procure transformers and get them installed because officials of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria were not responsive to calls for replacement, overloading resulting in load shedding, vandalism of transformers (allegedly spearheaded by PHCN officials), among others.
The usual claims of availability made by chief executive officers of electricity distribution companies no longer hold as scenarios painted by customer after customer show the contrary.
Getting a faulty transformer fixed, in most cases is a nightmare, not to mention replacing one that has been pronounced ‘dead’.
Just like the Discos have been complaining of non-availability of prepaid meters, many of them also claim that transformers are not available.
The case of residents in the Sangotedo area of Lagos, whose have been slugging it out with the Eko Electricity Distribution Company on this page for over two weeks, aptly paints the picture.
More often than not, residents resort to contributing money to buy transformers, when as a matter of fact, they should be provided by the respective PHCN companies.
One of such complaints was received from Zika Usifo Street Association in Magodo area of Lagos.
In a petition titled, ‘Request for Transformer’, a copy of which was sent to Power Talkback, they alleged cheating by PHCN officials in charge of the area – Zika Usifo Street, Off Olayemi Odutayo Street in Shangisha/Magodo area, off CMD Road, Lagos State.
The document reads in part, “PHCN officials as well as some armed boys from the neighbourhood, on Monday (25/02/2013) disconnected our electricity cables from the transformer. They asked us to go and get our own transformer, as they could no longer share the transformer with us.
“This was a shock as there was no prior issue over transformer. But we have been to the PHCN in our district several times and we have even written letters but they have done nothing about this. As it stands, we are still disconnected from the transformer.”
The association alleged that some PHCN officials asked residents of the street to pay a certain amount for a transformer. It noted that only seven houses are on the street.
“We call on our good government to stop this extortion, callousness and injustice. We pay our bills regularly and we pay our taxes both individually and even our Land Use Charges as at when due. We ask ourselves, are we to buy transformers ourselves? What is the essence of the bills and taxes we pay from our sweat? We have been in total darkness and still no hope of electricity anytime soon,” the association added.
Engr Chris Akamnonu, Chief Executive Officer of Ikeja Electricity Distribution network to which Magodo belongs, had said in an interview that customers were not expected to buy transformers. He also said that officials of the PHCN should not be involved in such arrangements.
Will the case of Usifo Street be promptly resolved with the record 48 hours usually advertised by some discos or not? The ball is in the PHCN’s court.
One obvious fact is that the new owners of the PHCN companies must hit the ground running to restore the confidence of electricity customers, if their plan is to make a fortune out of the business.