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NIGERIANS were very happy when the federal government came up with the Electric Power Sector Reform, EPSR, Act of 2005 and the Roadmap for Power Sector Reform of 2010. Both were supposed to sanitise the power sector and ensure efficient and effective power supply to the country. Part of the changes introduced in the reforms in the sector was the new computerised meter billing system which enabled electricity consumers to use pre-paid meter cards. The system was to eliminate corruption in the revenue collection system in the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN. It was also to take care of crazy bills which they send to electricity consumers even when there is no regular supply of electricity. Unfortunately, this supposedly corrupt-proof computerised payment system is now being abused by a fraud syndicate involving PHCN officials in the vending units and unsuspecting customers are being ripped-off.

The fraud in the PHCN vending system came to the notice of the editorial board of Realnews and we decided to investigate to ascertain the veracity of the allegations. In the course of the investigation, we spoke to consumers who also recounted their horrible experiences in the pre-paid billing system. The mind-boggling findings are what we put together in our cover story this week entitled:  Pre-paid Meter Rip-off: How PHCN Officials Defraud Customers. It was written by Anayo Ezugwu, our upcoming reporter researcher. It is a must read. Enjoy it.

Maureen Chigbo
Editor

— Apr. 1, 2013 @ 01:00 GMT