The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has faulted two major newspapers reports indicting all the power distribution companies in Nigeria for allegedly ripping off consumers across the country. The International Center for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) and Daily Trust Newspapers had reported exclusively that the Discos have engaged in consumer rip-off through estimated billings and the unrealistic Tariff Band Methodology, where consumers pay cost-reflective tariffs and still do not get commensurate electricity supply. But the Head, Corporate Communications at Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Oyebode Fadipe said the metering of all new customers is not practicable under Nigeria’s power distribution circumstances. He was speaking during an anti-corruption radio program, PUBLIC CONSCIENCE on RADIO, produced by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG, Wednesday in Abuja. The investigative reports had also indicted the DisCos of flouting government policy on estimated billing and failing on its promise to electricity customers on cost-reflective tariffs. But Fadipe disagreed saying that estimated billing is not illegal and that the DisCos don’t supply meters but companies licensed by NERC. In his clarification, he said: “The fact is that even if AEDC has all the meters that all customers require today, we cannot meter all of them today. “let us look at the practicality of the situation on the ground, if you say you are not connecting customers as they apply for connection and the customers go to connect themselves, where will the DisCos get the money to pay for the energy that has been consumed by the customer,” Fadipe asked. Reacting during the programme, the National Secretary, Nigeria Electricity Consumers Advocacy Network (NECAN), Uket Obonga said that there is massive fraud going on in the power sector.