Public power consumers in Abia State, South East Nigeria, are lamenting the latest hike in electricity tariff by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC.
The people who described the tariff increase as unbearable, accused the energy supply company of not considering the present economic challenges faced by Nigerians in its business decisions.
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Findings by AIT’s Chidi Odina reveals the plight of electricity consumers in Umuahia, the state capital.
About six months ago, the Abia State House of Assembly summoned officials of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC to offer explanations over claims of poor distribution of pre-paid meters to residents.
EEDC is a private entity in charge of public energy distribution in the South East region, but enjoys absolute monopoly.
The lawmakers expressed worry that only three thousand meters were available for an estimated hundred and fifty thousand customer base.
The huge shortage in the installation of pre-paid meters has its consequences, as many customers now receive exorbitant estimated bills.
Steve Oko, a civil servant with a family of five children laments that within this year alone, electricity tariff has risen from six thousand naira to eighteen thousand in parts of Umuahia.
For Steve, it is unfortunate that electricity consumers are paying high estimated bills, against government’s directive to the companies to stop estimated billing.
Though there is an improved power supply in some areas of the capital city, residents insist that pre- paid meter is better and should be provided for customers.
They accuse the distribution company workers of unwholesome practices in the installation of the very few available pre-paid meters.
Officials of the EEDC and the National Electricity Regulation Commission in Umuahia could not respond to the allegations.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
