The House of Representatives has passed a bill which seeks to prohibit and criminalize imposition of estimated billing by the electricity distribution companies (DISCOs).
The lawmakers, who expressed their overwhelming support during the debate on a Bill for an Act to amend the Electric Power Reform Act, 2005 which scaled through third Reading at the Committee of the whole house, stressed the need for the DISCOs to provide compulsorily install prepaid meters to all power consumers across the country.
The bill which was sponsored by Hon Femi Gbajabiamila passed through Third Reading in the 8th Assembly but was recently re-introduced after the Senate failed to concur with it.
In his explanation, Hon Gbajabiamila, who frowned at the unfair practice adopted by the operators observed that the Bill seeks to prohibit the estimated billing practice by the power providing companies on their simple whims.
He stated that it is a practice that is unlawful and highly fraudulent.
The Bill was unanimously passed by the House in the 8th Assembly but the process wasn’t concluded and he wished for its completion on the 9th Assembly.
Hon Gbajabiamila stated that the excuse of the unavailability of electricity meters causing the estimated billing practice should be unacceptable to a people-sensitive House.
