Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Landlords in Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State have protested against the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) over what they call ‘crazy bills.’
The residents stormed the EEDC office on Tuesday and decried what they described as “oppressive, outrageous and over-estimated” bills, ranging from N20,000 to N40,000 per house every month.
They also accused the EEDC of extortions and fraudulently sending as much as four bills to a flat on a monthly basis.
The Chairman of the Concerned Landlords Association, Electricity Committee, Chief Christian Achonye, who addressed the members on their investigations about the alleged dubious activities and extortion of EEDC in Ogbaru and adjoining communities, warned EEDC staff to stop entering into people’s houses at odd hours in the name of carrying out any services that are not in conformity with NERC regulations.
He said the EEDC was planning to use security operatives to force the people to pay the outrageous bills or disconnect their electricity supply.
“We are aware of the EEDC using security operatives to force our people to pay the illegal bills and we have equally informed the leadership of security outfits in the state about EEDC’s sharp practices and their decisions, so as to avoid breakdown of law and order,” he added.
He said, “Our struggle against the EEDC’s outrageous bills started since two years ago, when we complained to Ogbaru Network Manager through letters and visits, the person in charge then at their revenue office in Ogidi, Idemili Local North Local Government Area, invited their boss from Enugu to be involved in the matter.
“Their boss assured us that if he gets about 70 per cent signatories of landlords, he would negotiate with us.”
One of the spokespersons of the group, Mr Sam Aballah, said their meeting was to send signal to the EEDC that they would drag them to Court because of the continuous collection of over-estimated and outrageous bill in spite of their protest.
He said they have made several representations and appeals to the EEDC to reconsider the outrageous bills being given to the residents, but they fell on deaf ears.
Agballah said they are in possession of NERC regulations which stipulate the tariff customers are supposed to pay but the electricity company refused to comply.
He insisted that they will pay according to what is stipulated in EEDC regulations and not the outrageous bill, adding that if they refuse, the residents would want EEDC management to stop or withdraw their services from Ogbaru.
The Secretary-General of Ogboko community, Mr Raphael Agu, said the move by the residents to address the issue of over-estimated, outrageous, and oppressive bills was A welcome development.
