Energy consumers from Power line axis of Upper Chime, New Heaven Enugu have occupied the Headquarters of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, (EEDC). The energy users said, they were protesting over four months denial of electricity and insisted on not leaving the office of EEDC until their complaints are sorted out.
The energy Users and two among the protesting customers, Ugonna Nnamani and James Awala said they have found out that EEDC have not even touched or repaired their transformer since they carried it four months ago.
They noted that on several occasions, when they visited EEDC office, they were intimidated or harassed by the security agencies. According to James Awala, EDC took their transformer since 11th of January, 2020 promising to repair it and did nothing about until date, about four months after.
James added “Until EEDC took our transformer for repair, we did not owe them. In fact we decided to come here and stay here. It is either they kill us or beat us. We are not going anywhere unless we get our transformer. We are citizens of Nigeria and we deserve electricity, it is our right”
Another resident of the area, Mrs. Chineye added that they have spent four months in darkness. Chineye said throwing their street into darkness have exposed their neighborhood to regular invasion by armed robbers describing their experience as a nightmare for everybody especially their children.
In her words, “it took EEDC a month to visit our street to carry our transformer and the worst is that this is over four months and they have not repaired it”. “They keep telling us stories and we are tired of stories. Today, all we need is our transformer”
Meanwhile, reacting to the development, the Head of Communication, EEDC, Emeka Eze said the company has initiated a process to replace the transformer in question and asked the affected customers to be patient while the transformer is fixed”
According to Emeka, “the number of Transformers EEDC loss on daily basis in the network is increasing” He attributed some of the damaged transformers to the activities in the network.
“But part of what we are doing is to sanitize our network. Some customers double source and as a result of it, it hits back on the transformer leading to blow of transformers which in turn throw every customer feeding from the transformer into darkness”
“We are working out an arrangement where as we lift a transformer we will provide the customers with interim one that can serve them pending the repair of their transformer, but because of the number damaged transformers, we are not able to meet up”.
To speed up repair of the transformers, we also engage external contractors including that of Powerline, Upper Chime, New Haven, Enugu”, he said.
Emeka used the opportunity to urge all the customers to help EEDC in curbing energy theft and other illegalities in the network.
