By Ferdinand Agu
Enugu: The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) has announced that starting June 10, 2024, it will begin disconnecting the electricity supply to customers with outstanding bills. This decision is driven by the need to address the significant revenue shortfall caused by unpaid bills and accrued arrears, which has hampered the company’s ability to fulfill its power purchase obligations.
Emeka Ezeh, a spokesperson for EEDC, emphasized the critical nature of this measure, stating, “This exercise has become necessary considering the huge unpaid electricity bills and accrued arrears, which have consistently put the company in a precarious revenue deficit position.” He explained that the company has been grappling with these financial challenges for some time, making it increasingly difficult to operate efficiently.
The EEDC stressed the importance of timely bill payments to maintain service continuity. “For EEDC to continue providing services to its esteemed customers, it is pertinent that electricity bills, which are for energy already consumed, are paid in full,” Emeka explained. He further noted that failure to settle these bills will make it challenging for the company to sustain operations and enhance service quality, potentially affecting all customers.
A list of indebted customers has been released, including major entities such as the Enugu State Government, Ebonyi State Government, Anambra State Government, Abia State Government, Imo State Government, and several prominent institutions and businesses like Innoson Technical & Industries, University of Nigeria (Enugu & Nsukka Campuses), Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd., Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Airforce, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Railway Corporation, and many others. The list underscores the broad scope of the issue, affecting both public and private sectors.
The spokesperson highlighted the impact of these unpaid bills on EEDC’s operations. “Our ability to purchase power from generating companies is severely compromised when customers do not pay their bills,” Emeka said. “This directly affects our capacity to deliver reliable electricity to all our customers, which is why we must take this difficult step.” He emphasized that the company’s commitment to service quality is unwavering, but it relies heavily on customer cooperation in settling their dues.
“We appeal to the affected customers to clear their arrears on or before June 10, 2024, to avoid disconnection of their supply,” Emeka urged. This notice applies to all categories of customers, both Maximum Demand and Non-Maximum Demand, who are indebted to EEDC. He assured that the company is open to working with customers to find feasible payment solutions to prevent service interruptions.
Customers seeking further information can contact EEDC at 0815 082 4157. Emeka concluded by reiterating the company’s dedication to providing uninterrupted service and enhancing the quality of electricity supply, but highlighted that such goals can only be achieved through mutual responsibility and timely payments.
