Peoples Gazette
Residents of Cross River have called on the federal government to revoke the licence of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) for poor performance and exploitation of consumers.
The residents who spoke to journalists on Monday in Calabar lamented the spate of poor power supply in the state in the past one month and the exploitative estimated bills they receive.
“We are really suffering at 8 Miles area. The situation was not this bad because we started using a pre-paid meter. We usually spend N25,000 every two months,” a consumer, Offiong Okon said. “It is a fraud, it is wicked and we are in trouble. the federal government should withdraw PHEDC’s licence and give it to competent hands to come into the business.”
On their part, a group, Concerned Electricity Consumers, gave PHEDC a two-week ultimatum to transfer its zonal manager Collins Igwe out of Cross River.
Led by Celestine Nsefik, the group accused the zonal manager of playing god by not giving consumers electricity even though consumers continue to pay for the power that never comes.
“We cannot continue to watch him keep us in darkness while suffocating us with bills,” Mr Nsefik said.
Another resident, Aniefiok Matthew, who showed journalists his bill for November and December 2021, complained bitterly of what he described as a reckless estimated billing system by PHEDC in the state.
