Electricity consumers in Anambra State have voiced strong discontent regarding the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), citing persistent inefficiencies and an inability to effectively manage the region’s power supply.
In a recent forum organized by the Electricity Consumers Rights Network (ECRN) in Awka, the state capital, participants shared their troubling experiences with EEDC, describing their interactions as fraught with inadequacy and frustration.
The officials of the EEDC failed to attend the stakeholders meeting with consumers, despite being invited to the program. This absence was confirmed by the National Coordinator of Electricity Consumers Network ECRN, Comrade Osita Obi.
“We invited them in a timely manner for this meeting because they are key players in this issue, and they had assured us of their attendance. However, they failed to show up without providing any explanation for their absence,” stated Obi.
The meeting, attended by various stakeholders and consumers, highlighted a range of issues including outdated transformers, unreliable power supply, exorbitant estimated bills, and a lack of prepaid meters. Many attendees recounted instances of EEDC’s negligence, particularly in emergency situations such as when transformers malfunction.
In such cases, consumers reported that the company often fails to respond appropriately, instead asking residents to pay for repairs or replacements, only to deliver subpar solutions that lead to repeat outages.
Additionally, participants expressed their frustration over poor voltage levels that are often insufficient to charge mobile devices or power household appliances, all while receiving bills for non-rendered services.
A communiqué issued at the end of the forum, signed by ECRN Chair Osita Obi and other representatives, emphasized the urgent need for reform in the power supply sector. The document asserted that the monopolistic hold EEDC maintains over power distribution has led to significant hardships for consumers, including inconsistent billing practices, substandard service delivery, and diminished customer support.
To address these issues, the forum called for the restructuring of EEDC, arguing that such measures are essential to fostering competition, enhancing efficiency, and ensuring reliable power supply throughout Anambra State. Key demands included:
Restructuring of EEDC: Immediate actions to dismantle EEDC’s monopoly in favor of a competitive market.
Independent Power Plants: The establishment of independent power generation facilities to diversify energy sources and mitigate reliance on EEDC.
Regulatory Legislation: The enactment of comprehensive legislation to govern electricity billing practices, ensuring transparency and accountability in the sector.
Cessation of Meter Manufacturing: Terminating EEDC’s involvement in electricity meter production to eliminate potential conflicts of interest.
Civil Engagement: The forum called for active resistance across the state’s 21 local government areas to unify consumer voices demanding better electricity services.
Participants urged government agencies, including the Anambra State Government and the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), to prioritize these reforms. They emphasized the importance of consumer activism in demanding improved services and accountability from electricity suppliers.
Olusola Akintonde
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