Residents of Makurdi, the Benue capital, have condemned the electricity blackout attributed to Jos Electricity Distribution (JED) Plc, saying it has subjected innocent consumers to undue hardship.
The residents, who spoke with NAN on Saturday in Makurdi, urged the company to restore power supply and resolve its dispute with the Benue Government without disrupting electricity supply to other consumers.
JED staff withdrew their services on Wednesday following allegations that some youths invaded the company’s Makurdi office, assaulted and abducted personnel, and took away four vehicles, which were later returned.
A resident, Mr James Oguche, urged JED to adopt a targeted approach by limiting any lawful disconnection to the facility directly involved in the dispute rather than imposing a blackout on other consumers.
Oguche said electricity consumers should not bear the consequences of disagreements between a distribution company and the government, particularly when their businesses and daily activities depend on regular power supply.
“JED must restore power supply, uphold the law and protect innocent consumers. Innocent consumers must not suffer for the sins committed by a few,” he said.
Mrs Judith Audu, another resident, said the blackout had affected small businesses, hospitals, educational institutions and other essential services, worsening the economic difficulties faced by residents.
Audu also expressed concern about electricity metering and billing, particularly for consumers without prepaid meters.
She said prolonged power outages could create uncertainty over the bills of postpaid customers, especially those subjected to estimated billing.
According to her, consumers deserve clear information on how their bills would be calculated during the period of interrupted supply.
Mr Emmanuel Bem, another resident, called on JED to explain the scope of its actions and outline measures to protect affected consumers from unfair billing.
Bem acknowledged the company’s responsibility to protect its infrastructure, enforce payment obligations and ensure the safety of its personnel.
He, however, stressed that such responsibilities should be exercised fairly and proportionately, without unnecessarily disrupting electricity supply to customers unconnected with the dispute.
Bem urged relevant electricity regulatory authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the dispute and ensure that consumers’ rights were protected.
He said allegations of electricity theft, meter bypass or other violations should be addressed through appropriate regulatory and legal procedures.
He also urged JED to explore available dispute-resolution mechanisms with the Benue Government to facilitate the restoration of power supply.
Similarly, Mr Jude Terwase appealed to the company to prioritise dialogue and restore electricity to affected areas pending the resolution of the dispute.
Terwase said residents deserved reliable electricity, transparent billing and fair treatment, insisting that innocent consumers should not bear the consequences of the disagreement between JED and the state government.
He questioned the justification for a widespread blackout and called on the company to clarify whether its actions complied with applicable electricity regulations.
Terwase also sought clarification on the protections available to postpaid customers who might receive bills during prolonged interruptions to electricity supply.
JED reportedly serves more than 500,000 customers in Makurdi.