ELECTRICITY CONSUMERS IN AWKA PROTEST PHASE OUT OF EEDC STANDALONE PREPAID METERS

Protests have continued to trail the decision by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, (EEDC) to phase out the standalone prepaid meters.

Following commencement of its implementation, hundreds of electricity consumers in Awka have taken to the streets to pour out their disenchantment with the decision.

The protesters marched from Ndichie Square, Umudioka Village to Nkwo Amenyi through Zik Avenue to EEDC Awka office, which was heavily guarded by security personnel.

The protesters, who carried placards with inscriptions which read, “EEDC we are not happy,” “EEDC we need light,” also reached Amawbia roundabout before returning to Ndichie Hall Umudioka, Awka.

One of the protesters and Human Rights Activist, Comrade Osita Obi, described the current action by EEDC as unfortunate and called for Federal Government’s intervention to stop the plan.

Comrade Obi, however, stressed that if the standalone/unistar meters were to be removed, EEDC had to deploy immediate replacement at no cost to consumers.

He lamented the migration of prepaid consumers to estimated billing, which he noted was retrogressive.

One of the conveners of the protest, Chief Aiza Nwosu, affirmed that consumers had suffered untold hardship due to the inability to recharge their prepaid meters.

Another protester, Chief Obiora Okigbo, alleged that EEDC embarked on the programme to shortchange its customers.

Yet another protester, Comrade Ugochukwu Nwimoh, called on EEDC to exhibit customer friendliness and apply responsibility to issues affecting electricity consumers.

EEDC had in a new statement claimed that the phase-out of the Standalone meters would only affect few customers its districts.

It also alleged that the company had started replacing such meters and offering customers ample time to pay for them over a period of 24 months.

NDU NWANNAH