The Management of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, has declared as a criminal offence any form of monetary demand by its officials from customers for the purposes of purchasing or repairing faulty facilities.
EEDC in this regards said it was entire its responsibility to purchase, install and repair transformers and other facilities without demanding for money from customers.
It also announced that it was unrelenting in its efforts to ensure that all its customers are metred.
The power company said in this regards, it had committed over N10b for metre contract, which it explained would be done in phases.
Addressing customers at a town hall meeting in Enugu, EEDC Head of Operations, Vincent Ekwekwu, also blamed the inadequate power situation within its area of operation on the national supply.
Ekwekwu said that whereas they need not less than 740 mega watts of electricity to ensure steady power supply, the Transmission Company only supplies them with about 220 mega watts.
He explained that the company was pained over its inability to meet power demands of her customers. Ekwekwu, however, assured of the company’s commitment towards improving her facilities, pointing out that they would replace faulty transformers and service serviceable ones.
He stressed that on no account should individuals and communities pay anybody for transformer or for their installations.
He charged customers to report anybody that demands money to replace damaged transformers or other electrical installations.
“It is the responsibility of the EEDC to replace transformers and effect repairs when they develop faults. Help us to stop corruption among the staff of EEDC. We don’t charge customers to do anything for them. It is illegal,” he declared.
Speaking earlier, Head of Communications, Emeka Eze, said that they has the challenge of customers bypassing their prepaid metres.
Eze lamented that in Awkunanaw District alone, over 80% of prepaid metres were bypassed, hence they lose revenue that should accrue to them.
“Over 80% of prepaid meters in Awkunanaw are bypassed. That’s part of our major problems. We shall meter everybody but it has to be gradual,” Eze stated.
He said that they were prepared to improve on their customer service and for that reason, they had established 147 customer service centres and 24 hour call centres where customers can lodge complaints over poor service and sharp practices.
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