ECG was right in my case.

I have seen the importance of proper records keeping in my research career and this was heightened by living with a woman who is mastered in Management in Living. If anyone asked me why we were keeping all the light bills and receipts I would not have ever had a good reply.

Just two days ago, our power ran out and asked someone to go and purchase our units from the ECG private vending point for units. The person called back and said that there is an indication of some debt and that will be deducted before we get the desired units.

I was mad and could not comprehend. Wherefrom this debt? I asked. I have stopped using the post-paid meters two years ago and we were made to understand that all outstanding bills were cleared before they fixed the pre-paid meter.

I then asked the person to stop buying and was ready to sleep in darkness till the next day when I could go to the office to resolve the matter.

I was one of the people to show up early in the office before the manager. Apparently, there had been exercise two months ago that many people were made to pay some of these unexpected debts and it is continuing. Many people were in there with their bills awaiting explanations. I confirmed the issue on my card to be sure, the private vendor was not cooking some stories. In the explanation by the person selling the units within the ECG building, the cost had been divided to be paid in four months in installment but because I did not buy units in the month of November, I need to pay for the two months before I could buy what I need for the current month. The best option was to see the manager who can only clear the matter for me.

I was there with my clear bag containing all my bills and receipts since 2014 ready to collect my statements. The manager came in and one after the other, it was my turn to see him. It took him almost 10 minutes to get my statement ready. I then took the statement and went back to study it vis-a-vis the records in my file.

I found that there were some bills for two months after the installation of my pre-paid meter that I could not see the receipts. When I checked with my controller, she had not paid any money without taking a receipt. This was confirming the suspicion that the bills for those months were not paid for.

ECG bills for post-paid meters delay by two months before sent out to customers. For instance, any bill handled in the month of December will be for what was consumed in October. The amount put on my card as debt to be settled was just what I found on the bills that I had not paid cumulatively.

In swallowing the humble pie, I went straight to the bank and took money to go and settle my debt. I even found ECG to be kind enough to not collect any interest for the money I have kept since 2017.

What I fault them for is that, why should it take almost two years for you to come for a debt I owe? Assuming, I did not have any money to pay the debt, what would have happened? It was a bad approach if you ask me. My heart settled when my records spoke to me or else, battle and fight would have been the option.

I will forever stand for an efficient PRE-PAID metering system for electricity.

Let’s watch when battling state institutions, for all you know they may be right as happened in my case.