By Ngozi Obileri

More than ten transformers have been vandalised in Onitsha in the last one year.

The Managing Director Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, Mr. Okey
Nwosu stated this in Onitsha during a one day sensitization and
Customer service forum organized for electricity consumers in Onitsha,
Ogidi and Ogbaru districts.

Mr. Nwosu appreciated the consumers for their believe
in the company and enumerated various reforms going on in an attempt
to make things better for the consumers.

He cautioned against vandalization of their property and assaulting
staff of the company while discharging their duties, even as he
explained that most outages was as result of the activities of the
vandals and those who engage in energy theft.
On his part, the Head, Health, Safety and Environment Engineer Francis
Iwu stressed the need for people to stop building under high tension
wires describing it as suicidal, adding that they now have the
authority to disconnect buildings under high tensions and would sue
them for violation of power line right of way.

He cautioned against engaging non EEDC staff for service delivery
using fake electric wire and other electrical gadgets to avoid the
risk of loss of life.

The Head of Communication EEDC Mr. Emeka Ezeh in a speech, explained
that the meeting was to brief their customers on the activities of the
company towards improved services and said they are currently carrying
out enumeration exercise to know the number of consumer in every
district because according to him, the number of energy distributed is
lesser than the number of consumers in South East.

Mr. Eze called for prompt payment of bills by consumers to enable them
import enough energy that will serve the people, adding that metering
of consumers has now been regulated by National Electricity Regulatory
Commission who has devised Meter Asset Provider as a new means of
metering which will kick off soon.

Mrs. Ijeoma Ogudebe who is the Manager Customer Service talked on
various measures taken by EEDC to have personal relationship with the
consumers, and the need to channel their complaints to the appropriate
office especially in the areas of billing and poor supply, for
immediate attention.

Some of the consumers including Messrs Ike Ezeaku, Celestine Okonkwo and Oluchi
Umeh who commended EEDC for an improvement in power supply, laid
various complaints including outrageous bills, faulty transformers
among others, and were cleared on how to tackle their issues.
Image may contain: one or more people, people sitting and indoor.

-ABS