Enugu Electric Explains Reason For Drop In Power Supply

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, says the persistent power supply challenges in Umuahia and other parts of Abia State are due to a significant drop in electricity generation nationwide.

The Group Head, Corporate Communications of EEDC, Emeka Eze, disclosed this on Thursday while speaking on Hardtalk, a political and current affairs programme on Spin FM, Umuahia, explaining that national power generation has dropped to about 4,000 megawatts, thereby reducing energy allocation to distribution companies and consumers.

He noted that about 75 percent of Nigeria’s electricity generation depends on gas, adding that the current shortfall which is a national challenge came as a result of inadequate supply of gas to the power generation companies.

On the issue of increased billings, despite the drop in power supply, Eze said some customers on its corridors were migrated to Band A platform with increased supply, hence the increased power bills.

Responding to questions on sending bills to homes whose occupants travelled for long periods, Eze also advised customers who travel for extended periods to formally notify EEDC and request temporary disconnection to avoid accumulated bills, stressing that effective communication between customers and the company remains essential.

Reacting to metering, the communication boss highlighted that there are various platforms of acquiring the meters. For Band A customers, the EEDC already has over thirteen thousand meters ready for installation, free of charge to electricity consumers, adding that postpaid customers can as well apply and pay for the meters while the company refunds through energy supply.

He maintained that it is not the responsibility of customers to fix faulty transformers or perform any form of repairs, but regretted that the bottle necks due to bureaucracy and insufficient funding brings about delays in their response.

On that, Eze said the company refunds the customers through energy supply, that is, when customers carry out maintenance or repair works but warned that some people use the widow to extort their neighbours.