Anambra community protests against bogus estimated bills from EEDC, FirstPower

 

The people of Uga, Aguata Local Government Area (LGA), Anambra State, on Monday, protested against what they described as bogus estimated bills from the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) despite poor power supply.

According to the natives, EEDC, whose asset in Anambra State is currently managed by one of its subsidiaries, FirstPower Electricity Distribution Limited, has consistently issued them with humongous bills even when they hardly receive power up to two times monthly.

Addressing the media, the Chairman of the electricity committee of the Uga community, Evangelist Jonhpaul Ifediba, alleged that they had never celebrated Christmas with power supply even as he urged staff of FirstPower to stop disconnecting his people without reaching out to the committee.

Ifediba, who also represented the President General of Uga Improvement Union (UIU), Chief Romanus Umenze, warned that they would never pay for electricity bills not consumed even as he urged the power distribution company to issue meters to those who applied for it.

"Whenever the EEDC restores power it stops at Ula Ekwulobia. This thing happens mostly at night. I will be informed to go and pick the light (switch on). I will leave Uga to Ekwulobia most times at midnight. If I don't do this there will be no power in Uga.

"They told us that it is necessary because the handle for the switch developed a fault. We have complained consistently about it but they haven't been able to repair it for many years now. Generally, we don't usually have power two times a week. And when those we had did not last beyond 5 yours," he stated.

Also speaking, the Councillor, Uga Ward 1, Hon. Onyeka Ezenwa (onyeoma na Uga), lamented that the power failure had laid off many institutions as well as make lives uncomfortable to them.

According to him, every month EEDC officials issue those under estimated bills between N12,000 to N100,000, while bulk customers (those charged per village receive bills of about N500,000 to millions when they might not have enjoyed light up to 5 hours up to two times a month.

"Sometimes they will flash it and take it back again. It may come around 2am when you are asleep, usually low voltage and before morning, it goes off again. They do this usually towards the month end. Then, they will bring their bills. If you don't pay, they will disconnect your house and go to their offices with your cables. When you come to pay to be reconnected you will be requested to pay for your cables yet they will end up using another person's own instead of yours," he added.

Some of electricity Consumers, including Mr Sunny Ezeajama, babber and Mrs Chidimma Ochiogwu, a businesswoman, lamented that they spend between N60,000 to N100,000 on purchase of fuel and diesel to run their businesses monthly, adding that despite this power distributor still bill them about N15,000 and N70,000.

Other speakers such as Comrade E. E. Elochi, Mr Umennajiego Ukachukwu, Mr Ezennia Josiah, Mr Chibuike Ezeabuzie, Mrs Ngozi Ozoemena, Nze John Abadibe, Mrs Uche Madufe and Mr Onwuka Ifeanyi, appealed for Governor Chukwuma Soludo's intervention towards ensuring that they receive stable power supply which they assured they would be proud to pay even if connected to Band A.

Meanwhile, the Electricity Consumers Right Network (ECRN) has inaugurated a unit or chapter at Uga to further assist in sensitising the people at the hinterlands on their rights and responsibilities towards ensuring steady and affordable power supply.

The Coordinator, ECRN, Comrade Osita Obi, while inaugurating the chapter, also charged them to protect the power assets under their care and to promptly pay their bills.

He, however, urged the EEDC to be fast in resolving whatever issues hampering power supply at Uga for people to celebrate Christmas with power supply, enjoy the value for their money given that majority of those returning for the period of festivities usually contribute money to offset their electricity estimated bills.

Obi, who described power as one of the fundamental human rights every citizens should enjoy to the fullest, charged the power distribution company to meter every customer as doing so would equally benefit them.

Speaking over the development, the Traditional Ruler of Uga, Igwe Sir Stephen Ezenwigwe, represented by Obi Solomon Nzediegwu (Obi of Awalasi), commended Comrade Osita Obi and his team assuring his royal support for power supply to be fully restored in the community.