PHCN Grants MTN 60% Concession

The Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) has granted one of the leading telecommunications companies in the country, MTN Nigeria Communications Limited a sixty per cent concession on energy supplied its facilities.

Out of a total bill of N7,315,424.64 owed by the communications company in its operations within Diobu area of Port Harcourt, PHCN gave a discount of N4,389,255.60, meaning that MTN has to pay the sum of N2,926,169.04.

This followed a letter from Churchgate Towers, the head office of MTN in Lagos, requesting for a review of the bills sent in by PHCN.

The letter, signed by Cyril Obi, and addressed to the Business Manager of PHCN, Diobu Business Unit with the title, “Bill Reconciliation” stated that a lot of MTN sites had been disconnected due to non-payment of bills which was as a result of irregular power supply and unwarranted billing.

The letter said even when it was established that the affected sites had been disconnected, PHCN was still sending bills for services not rendered.

In the light of the above, MTN requested that all previous bills be reviewed or possibly written off, and that all MTN sites be properly metered to resolve the issue of estimated billing.

The communications company also requested that some PHCN officers be dedicated to MTN sites to resolve outstanding issues and to be available to MTN distress calls.

In reaction to the requests, PHCN Diobu Business Unit granted the communications company the 60 per cent concession.

The Public Affairs Manager of the unit, Mr. Herbert Ani confirmed the development to The Tide. He said the concession was in the spirit of maintaining the mutual business relationship existing between the two companies.

He also disclosed that PHCN was willing to enter into such negotiation with corporate consumers with outstanding huge debts, stressing that as a business and service-oriented company, such official grace was necessary.  

The public affairs boss enjoined consumers with huge debts to take advantage of the concession provision to discuss with Power Holding Company on how to clear outstanding bills.

Chris Oluoh