Bill to criminalise estimated PHCN billing scales third reading at House of Reps

A bill for an Act to amend the Electric Power Reform Act to prohibit and criminalise estimated billing by any of the Electricity Distribution companies in Nigeria, passed the third reading in the House of Representatives today January 22nd. 

The bill, which is being sponsored by the Leader of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila had scaled public hearing on Tuesday, June 5, 2018. The lawmaker argues that there is no civilised Nation in the world that bills their electricity consumers arbitraily the way electricity companies in Nigeria do.

“Any regulation that allows estimation of bills when the actual consumption can be ascertained is against natural justice and equity and should not stand'’ Gbajabiamila said

He said the bill, when passed, would put an end to the estimated billing by the DisCos, stressing that it would bring about a win-win situation for both the consumers and the companies.

“The bill will ensure that prepaid meters are installed in all houses, so long as the customers apply for the meters,” he said.

 The House unanimously voted in favour of the bill when it was put to voice vote by the Deputy Speaker, Yussuf Lasun (APC-Osun), at the plenary on Today.