Aba To enjoy PHCN Prepaid Billing Soon

The Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) will soon introduce prepaid meters for electricity consumers in Aba.

PHCN’s Public Affairs Manager (Aba Business Unit) Mr Ralph Nwandu who made this known while speaking with newsmen in Aba, pleadged that the era of estimated billing system  would soon be over.

He said that the meters would be provided by the Enugu Zonal Office of PHCN, adding that many consumers had already made payments for the meters.

He said that cost of a single-phase meter connection was N25,000, while that of a three-phase meter connection was N55,000.

Nwandu, nonetheless, stressed that all payments for prepaid meters should be in bank drafts, payable to the Enugu Zonal Office of PHCN.

However, a circular endorsed by Mr Suleiman Yahaya, head of PHCN’s Enugu Distribution Zone, said that the meters’ distribution would be limited to customers in the core urban areas of Aba Business Unit for now.

The circular, dated October 18, 2011, advised electricity consumers to start paying the prepaid meters’ connection fees.

Meanwhile, the state government says it plans to provide free transportation to indigenes of the state travelling home for Christmas and New Year celebrations.

A statement by Mr Ugochukwu Emezue, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, on Tuesday in Umuahia said the gesture was to assist those living in some northern and Lagos States.

It said those travelling home from Abuja, Sokoto, Niger, Plateau, Kaduna and Lagos States would benefit from the arrangement.

The statement said Gov. Theodore Orji had already approved some luxury, coaster and hummer buses that would be stationed at designated centres to convey those willing to take advantage of the facilities.

It said that Abia Liaison Officers in Abuja and Lagos would coordinate the movement, and assured all those travelling home during the festive period of adequate security.

It said security arrangements had been put in place for a hitch-free exercise.