The National Association of Electricity Consumers of Nigeria (NAECN) on Saturday said it was highly concerned at the rate at which exorbitant electricity bills are passed to consumers by the distribution companies.

Mr Ganiu Makanjuola, the National President made this known an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He said that the bills were being dished out without commensurate services being offered by the distribution companies.

Makanjuola said that the high billing of customers was not the energy reforms of the transformation agenda as envisaged by President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration.

He called for an urgent overhaul of the entire system.

He said that the association would not hesitate to join forces with other well-meaning Nigerians to fight for the stoppage of such illegal bills if the practice continued unabated.

“The Nigerian electricity consumers are being short-changed, cheated and embarrassed with fraudulent bills when there is no electricity.

“These fraudulent bills are putting more hardships, especially on the downtrodden masses that cannot even afford three square meals a day and now have to cough out monies for electricity they don’t get.

“NAECN notes that the exploitative attitude of the new DISCOS is oppressive, unjust and uncalled for,’’ he said.

Makanjuola, however, urged the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to be alive to its responsibilities by ensuring that the new electricity distribution companies gave citizens power for 24 hours.

He, therefore, advised the DISCOs to ensure that pre-paid meters were installed to check arbitrary estimated bills.

“National Electricity Regulatory Commission should not just be concerned with increase in tariffs but must also ensure better service delivery to electricity consumers in the country,” he said.

/NAN