Hotel owners in Kaduna on Friday decried the sudden hike in tariff of up to 600 per cent by the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDC)
The Secretary, Nigeria Hoteliers Association, Kaduna branch, Mr Jijiwon Akpovwovwo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna that the new charges could lead to total collapse of hotel business in the state.
According to him, some hotels have had their monthly bill raised from N123, 000 to N600, 000, while some paying about N220,000 monthly for electricity are now charged N1.8 million.
He described the billing as crazy and unreasonable, adding that it would lead to total collapse of the business if the tariff was not reviewd.
Akpovwovwo said, hotel owners still have to buy diesel to provide power to their establishments “because public energy supply is limited”.
He advised the electricity company to cultivate healthy business relationship with its customers.
The secretary urged the management of the power company to review the tariff in the interest of justice.
Reacting to the complaint, KAEDC Public Affairs Manager, Malam Idris Mohammad, said only customers with faulty meters were issued the new charges.
According to him, such customers are made to pay for the correct amount for the power consumed, including the period when the meter was tampered with.
Mohammed said such establishments would revert to normal billing after completing payment of the new charges.
He advised the association to meet with officials of the power company to address areas of misunderstanding. (NAN)
Source : Leadership