The South-East electricity consumers have tackled the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company over what they described as poor power supply and inefficiency in their service delivery across the region.
The EEDC is responsible for the distribution of power across the five South-East states, including Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Abia, and Ebonyi states.
The aggrieved consumers under the aegis of Electricity Consumers Rights Network and Concerned Stakeholders, expressed their grievances during a town hall meeting in Awka, alleging that the power company had failed to live up to expectations.
They enumerated their demands in a communique issued after the exercise, emphasising the need for increased competition and a more reliable power supply in the region.
The communiqué, signed by Osita Obi, National Coordinator of the Electricity Consumers Rights Network, and Emeka Ral, Secretary of the Electricity Consumers Rights Network, underscored the urgency of addressing the ongoing power supply challenges.
The communique read, “The lack of competition in the power supply sector has led to inefficiencies, unreliable services, and exploitation of consumers.
The EEDC’s monopoly on power supply has resulted in untold hardships for consumers, including erratic billing, inadequate supply, and poor customer service.
“The manufacture of electricity meters by EEDC is a clear conflict of interest, allowing the company to be a judge in its own cause.We demand the immediate unbundling of the EEDC to promote competition, efficiency, and reliability in power supply. The establishment of independent power plants by the state government to provide alternative sources of power and reduce reliance on the EEDC.”
However, in its reaction when contacted on Monday, the Head, Corporate Communications of EEDC, Emeka Ezeh, blamed the poor power situation on the general challenges facing the sector, which he said were not peculiar to the EEDC.
Ezeh insisted that EEDC always tried to ensure that it served its customers efficiently.
While highlighting the challenges facing the power sector, Ezeh said it won’t be fair for consumers to heap the whole blame of the sector on the distribution companies, adding that the distribution companies have a role to play in ensuring the sector is sustainable and delivers quality service to its customers.
“The challenge of power supply is a national concern and not peculiar to EEDC or the South-East region. So, let’s not paint it as if it is only obtainable within the South-East. EEDC, as the distribution company responsible for the region, is doing everything possible within its means to provide and deliver quality service to its customers,” he stated.
