Group condemned IBEDC for disconnecting power supply to UCH ibadan
The group, All Electricity consumers protection Forum condemned strongly the action of IBEDC at disconnecting the power supply to UCH ibadan over #400m outstanding debt.
This action not only callous but criminal. The National coordinator, All Electricity consumers protection Forum, Amb Adeola Samuel ilori said in his release in Lagos over the report that the distribution company has disconnected power supply to the Hospital over outstanding debt balance of the hospital. In his release,he said the actin not only illegal but callous.
It’s callous on the sense that the organization not unaware that UCH being multifaceted general hospital with diverse patients and mortuary will.kae people suffer during the inhuman attitude of the power supply company.
To think that many of this bills claimed and amounted to outstanding balance can not be wholely defended by the Disco as true picture of power supply to the hospital, it’s not that the bills culminated in the outstanding balance are pure scientific but estimated which by virtue of what they are known for can’t be accurate and holistic in truism of the hospital power consumption therefore if subject to forensic and reconciliation test, the amount may not be more than 90m.
It’s not rocket science that their unwholesome business practice has led many household in debt of money they did not owed them and paying for light they did not use. It’s also common knowledge that if the hospital is meterd with prepaid, there won’t be any reason to be owed ,so the question is why can’t those establishment be meter to avoid such situations like this?
The discos left what supposed to be done as their process of good service undone but quick to activate portion of the law that allows them to disconnect owing customers. This their actions become illegal and criminal because,in trying to obey the portion of the business law usner the consumers protection regulations,2023 section 20(2) (c) which allows them to disconnect consumers that owes after notice of disconnection for 10 working days has been given and additional 2 working days after the notice before disconcertion can take place,the same law of operations forbid them to disconnect any hospital or building where to their knowledge, surgery or operation are ongoing or with life support.
The section 25 (2) of consumers protection regulations,2023 specifically stated that no distribution company shall disconnect power where operation and life support are in use. And any place where life support are in use , the power sector shall enter into negotiations on how the debt shall be paid back.
The above law of power sector operations and protection of consumers right against abitrary disconnection remains unambiguous and I wonder why IBEDC will disconnected a hospital with uncounted patients both with life support and or surgery operations.
The group hereby give IBEDC 48hrs within the time of this press release restore the power to UCH by obeying this provisions or face legal action from the registered group to protect the rights of electricity consumers within the NESI sector.
And also call on Nigerian Electricity Regulatory commission,the supervisory regulatory body that issues our the operation guidelines to prevail on IBEDC to restore power supply to the hospital as any life to oat as a result of this their obnoxious actions will make them be vicariously liable for not prevail on them based on disobedience of their law contrary to section 34 of the Electricity Act, 2024 as amended. Signed Adeola Samuel ilori National coordinator