Residents, business fume, as electricity supply worsens in Cross River

[From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar]

Residents and energy consumers in Cross River State have kicked against the poor power supply in the state.

They also protested the hike in energy charges despite the lack of prepaid meters as well as the attitude of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company who revel in issuing estimated billing to energy consumers.

They also criticized the Zonal Manager of the company Mr. Collins Igwe saying he has performed very poorly and should be transferred out of the state.

Speaking on the poor power supply in the state, a group, Concerned Electricity Consumers has given the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) two weeks within which period its Zonal Manager leave the state for poor performance.

The group, led by Mr. Celestine Nsefik accused the zonal manager of playing god by not giving consumers electricity even though consumers continue to pay for light that never comes.

“We are giving PHEDC two weeks to withdraw their zonal manager in Cross River State.

“Since Mr. Collins Igwe assumed duty in the state in July last year, we have been grappling with the issue of blackout in the state.

“We pay so much for estimated billing, yet we don’t have light. The situation was not this bad prior to his coming.

“It is a deliberate way of ripping electricity consumers who pay so much for estimated billing without light.

“We cannot continue to watch him keep us in darkness while suffocating us with bills.

“Normally, PHEDC is supposed to abide by the Service Reflective Tariff whereby consumers pay for energy consumed. The tariff should be equal to service,” Nsefik said.

He lamented that despite the fact that energy charge has increased to over N35 per kilowatt hour, power supply has worsened.

Another electricity consumer, Offiong Okon, a medical doctor, said: “We are really suffering at 8 miles. The situation was not this bad. We use pre-paid meter and usually spend N25,000 every two months.

“But six days ago, we loaded N25,000 and today, our meter is reading minus 287. In six days even when we don’t have light even when we don’t have electricity for more than one hour a day?

“It is fraud, it is wicked and we are in trouble. Federal government should withdraw PHEDC’s license and give it to competent hands to come into the business. What kind of company behaves like PHEDC?” she asked.

Similarly in Calabar South some residents say they barely enjoy one hour of electricity in a day and this has been happening for over three weeks now.

Komok Etim, a said the last time they saw light for up to two hours PHEDC officials came for disconnection and compelled people to pay bills though POS.

He said after they left power supply was turned off  in the area and they have been in darkness.

This he insisted is quite bad and businesses are worse off in the area.

Meanwhile, the Clan Head of Kasuk 11 community in Calabar, Chief Ededem Okon Ayito has joined electricity consumers to complain about the light situation in Calabar.

He said PHEDC should make prepaid meters available to consumers and not persist in issuing estimated bills.

According to him, if people can recharge their phones to make calls, they can also recharge meters so as to use electricity.

Meanwhile officials of the PHEDC have failed to respond to enquires as to thr poor power supply in the state.