By Francis H. Murray
Some prospective customers of the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) have expressed concern and frustration over the fate of their application after the Authority announced it had outsourced energy meter sales.
Some who spoke to Politico and have applied for their meters to the Authority, are particularly worried that EDSA failed to provide them answers about payments they had already made for the service.
EDSA in a statement last week named three companies it said had been awarded contracts to procure and distribute the meters to three different parts of the country.
It followed reports that one of the contracting companies, Holley Technology & Barri Investment, had procured hundreds of STS Split Prepared Electricity Single and Three-Phase Meters and brought them into the country.
According to the statement, Holley Technology will supply the Western Area Urban and Rural, Lungi and Port Loko Districts.
A second contractor, Kalleone Group of Companies, will supply Bo and Kenema Districts, while the third, Elite Power Solutions, will supply Bombali, Tonkolili and Kono Districts.
EDSA added in its statement that the three companies won the right to handle the sale of the meters under a vendor financing and consignment stock model.
The development has been received by Sierra Leoneans with mixed feelings. While some hope it will bring to an end a culture of exploitation of applicants by rogue EDSA officials, there are concerns about other implications arising from the business model. For instance, the cost of a meter has gone up substantially as a result of the outsourcing. Before now the single phase meter was sold for Le 805,000 (including installation fee). Now that is sold for Le 1,100,000. Three-phase meter was sold for Le 1, 350, 000 and now goes for Le 2, 300,000.
Also, there are questions about the time it takes to complete the process of application and installation of the meter.
Crucially, the immediate concern for hundreds of Sierra Leoneans is what becomes of monies they have already paid to EDSA for meters before the privatization of the process. Some of them have waited for over a year, amidst repeated failed assurances by the Authority.
Abdul Sherry, a resident of Sumaila Town in Freetown has been waiting for his meter since he applied and made the necessary payments in mid-December of 2018.
‘‘Last month, the EDSA office put out a notice in newspapers that enough meters were available to meet customers’ needs. I bought a copy of the newspaper which had the published notice and took it to their office, including my receipt of payment” Sherry said.
He added. “But when I got there, I was told that meters were not available, that their bosses had put out the notice without thorough consultations. They encouraged me at the end of the day to continue checking with them”.
Sounding livid and looking disappointed, he lamented that it was “very frustrating that we pay for services in this country and they are not given to us. Some people apply today and are given their meters. I really don’t know what magic is involved on their part”.
Another disappointed applicant, Allie Kamara, who resides at Rokel Village in the Freetown outskirts, said he had been waiting for his meter after applying over 15 months ago.
“I feel too bad that my neighbors have electricity and I can’t enjoy from a service that has been paid for. What is more frustrating is the fact that my wife does not believe that I really paid for the meter even when I have authentic receipt to the effect,’’ he said.
While Alie said he paid Le850, 000 for a single-phase meter, Sherry said he paid Le950, 000 for same, pointing to a disparity in the charges.
When approached, authorities at EDSA refused to talk to Politico on the concerns of these customers and the way forward. The Public Relations Officer abruptly cancelled a scheduled interview with us on Monday.
There have been numerous complaints against EDSA for ignoring customer complaints. It took the Authority almost two weeks to address concerns over the recent frequent power outage in Freetown.
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