Estimated billing by the Electricity Distribution Companies has officially been criminalized by the House of Representatives.
News reports revealed that a bill for an Act amending the Electric Power Reform Act to prohibit and criminalise estimated billing by the Electricity Distribution Companies, was passed on Tuesday, January 21, 2019.
The decision was made during a meeting at the floor of the house, which was led by the Deputy speaker, Hon Yussuf Lasun, after it was reportedly read for the third time by the Clerk.
The bill was unanimously voted after being sponsored by the Leader of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila.
According to the reports, the bill containing sections in which the normal estimation of energy used by customers who are yet to be supplied pre-paid meters by the distribution companies, made it through public hearing on Tuesday, June 5, 2018.
While speaking during the meeting, Gbajabiamila noted that electricity has never been billed arbitrarily anywhere in the world.
“Any regulation that allows estimation of bills when the actual consumption can be ascertained is against natural justice and equity and should not stand.”
He insisted that the newly passed bill would end the era of estimated billing by the DisCos.
