The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), has decried the 9 percent electricity allocation from the national grid.
Based on this, EEDC has appealed for understanding of its customers in the South East region of the country, in the face of the current poor power supply situation.
According to a statement signed by Mr Emeka Ezeh, the Head, Corporate Communications, EEDC, on Thursday, “The lingering poor power supply experienced by customers across the EEDC franchise area is due to low power generation caused by gas constraints to the thermal generating companies. A development that has resulted in reduction in the quantum of daily megawatt hour (MWH) of energy allocated to distribution companies nationwide.
“It is important to note that this situation is not peculiar to EEDC, but one that affects all the 11 electricity distribution companies in the country.
“This situation is already receiving attention of the honourable minister for power as well as other critical stakeholders in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
“In EEDC’s culture of carrying its customers along, it had issued press releases and communications on the power situation to its customers, explaining the reason for the drop in power supply and sought for their understanding.”
Meanwhile, while reacting to the recent accusations from EEDC customers in the South East over the lingering low power supply, Ezeh said, “Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) is a distribution company with license only to distribute electricity. In other words, EEDC does not generate electricity neither does it transmit electricity, but only distributes that which is generated and transmitted to it.
“So, it is a chain reaction and it will be unfair to accuse EEDC of a situation or development that is totally beyond its control. EEDC can only distribute what it gets from the national grid based on its allocation of 9% of total energy generated in the country.
“For electricity to get to customers, there are parties that need to work together to see that it happens. They are referred to as the “electricity value chain” and they are made up of the Generation Companies (GenCos), Transmission Company (TCN) and the Distribution Companies DisCos). Each has its own primary responsibility which impacts on others.
“For instance, if the GenCos generate power and the TCN for some reason is not able to wheel the power to the DisCos, there won’t be power to distribute to the customers. In the same vein, if the GenCos do not generate power, there won’t be power for the TCN to wheel to the DisCos, and there won’t be power to distribute to customers.”
Speaking to Voice of Nigeria on the allegation of “outrageous electricity bill and extortion”, Ezeh said, “We wish to state clearly that EEDC is a highly regulated business enterprise and operates within the confines of the regulation guiding the industry which is overseen by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
“EEDC cannot be seen to be engaging in unprofessional conducts, else sanction will be meted on the company.
“Customers are billed based on service rendered and their service bands, in line with approved billing methodology. However, where they have grievances, there is an established redress mechanism in place (instituted by NERC) for them to make their complaints known to the company for it to be addressed.
“EEDC is committed to serving its esteemed customers, they are the reason EEDC is in business.
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