PATRICK ABANG Calabar –
Due to epileptic power supply within Calabar Municipality and its environ, a group of concerned electricity consumers in Cross River State has called for the resignation of its Zonal manager.
The group issued two week ultimatum to the management of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) to transfer its Zonal Manager, Mr. Collins Igwe from Cross River State or resign his appointment.
The group, led by Mr. Celestine Nsefik accused the zonal manager of not giving consumers electricity even though consumers continue to pay for electricity they never utilized.
“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.
Another electricity consumer, Offiong Okon, 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.
Meanwhile, the Clan Head of Kasuk11 community in Calabar, Chief Ededem Okon Ayito has joined electricity consumers to complain about the light situation in Calabar.
