By Praise Chinecherem
Umuawulu community in Awka South local government Area of Anambra state has threatened to mobilise over 2000 persons to occupy Enugu Electricity Distribution Company EEDC, Awka office, if it fails to restore power to community within two weeks.
The threat was contained in a protest letter titled ” Protest Against Continued Breach of NERC Decision on Restoration of Light to Health Centre Substation Transformer ,Umuaeulu” to EEDC by the community.
The letter wa jointly signed by Chairman, Comrade Osita Obi ,Secretary, Cyril C Eziofor and Legal Adviser, Bar. Tony Anazor, copied to the Anambra State Commissioner of Police and Director, Department of State Security (DSS) .
The community accused the power company for breach of contract and disregard to the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC directive on restoration of light.
According to the statement, “The EEDC has continuously breached directive from Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC directive for metering and restoration of light after clearing outstanding bills.
“Electricity Consumers in Umuawulu take exception to the continued disregard of the directives of Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC for metering and restoration of light to the transformer after clearing outstanding bills is deliberately flouted by the staff of Awka Office of EEDC.
“The consumers of Health Center Substation Transformer Umuawulu have since cleared the outstanding bills of N7,204,000 as far back as 30th December, 2022 and individual consumers have been captured in EEDC DATA BASE, account numbers have been assigned to them and Demand Notice issued and many have paid forr pepaid.
“It is regrettable that only a few meters have been installed without energizing the transformer.
“To make the situation more hopeless, many consumers cannot pay for their meters because the REMITA PAYMENT REFERENCE was deactivated without directives on how else to make payments.
“It is unfortunate that this transformer which serves UMUAWULU PRIMARY
HEALTHCARE CENTER, the only health institution in Umuawulu community has been in darkness since three years ago. AIl efforts to get officials of your organization at Awka to do the needful have proved abortive as they are unwilling to cooperate with the sate.
We therefore demand that you take immediate steps to the following consumers. Restore light to the Health Center Substation Transformer Umuawulu without further delay.
Complete the installation of Prepaid Meters already duly paid for and Immediately reactivate/ revalidate those Demand Notice which REMITA PAYMENT REFERENCES have been deliberately deactivated, to enable those concerned pay for meters.
Take note that if after Two Weeks from today nothing is done in this regard, we shall have no other option than to mobilize over 2000 electricity consumers to occupy EEDC Office until we receive justice” it stated.
When contacted the Head , Corporate Communication of EEDC, Mr Emeka Eze,said he got information that the community is on supply at the moment and that the transformer will be closed tomorrow.
He said that those outstanding customers who claimed to have paid will definitely be metered.
“Let’s have details and proof of payment.
For those who could not pay, they might have to revalidate the Demand Note as it is possible they are expired. Demand Note has a life span of 30 days” he said.
