Abia Residents Carpet EEDC Over Increase In Electricity Tariff

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 facing Nigerians in its business decisions.

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.

Information gathered from the legislators indicate that the lawmakers expressed worries 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 tarrif 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 accused 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 however not respond to the allegations.

AIT