Consumers cry foul over utility’s billing system

MUHANGA - The Electricity and Water Corporation (RECO-RWASCO) has acknowledged that it made errors in its billing system in Muhanga. Corporation Director in Muhanga District, Marc B Runoro, has acknowledged that the company over billed clients apparently due to technical errors. He was responding to complaints from residents in Nyamabuye sector who claimed their electricity and water bills appeared to have been inflated. The seemingly furious residents say, this has been going on for the last one month. “There is over billing and yet the consumption of water and electricity in our families has been constant. It is simply unacceptable for bills to rise from Rwf15000 to Rwf50000, without proper explanations while consumption is constant,” one resident said. Runoro explained that the problem has been caused by technical glitches within the company’s billing index machine, but it has now been sorted out. “There have been errors caused by the billing machine which occurred in mid September. This problem has been rectified and we asked all affected clients to report such complaints in which case we will undertake re-billing,” Runoro said. He added that the problem is partly caused by delays in clearing of arrears. Ends