Port Harcourt residents are groaning under worsening power supply situation in the city and its environs, some 22 days after Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) announced 10-day outage it assured would restore steady power immediately afterwards.
The Public Affairs Manager of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, Mr John Onyi who linked the outage to repairs and upgrade of facilities by the transmission company of Nigeria (TCN), said the repair work was yet to be completed.
Onyi while announcing the outage on July 13, had assured residents that consumers would enjoy better supply after the repair work has been completed by July 23
However, what is  baffling to most residents is that weeks after the period for the repair, power situation had remained worsen than ever.
A consumer, Chinedu Amadi said while the situation remained bad staff of PHED were busy issuing bills to the people and embarking on disconnections.
‘This goes to show you the high level of insensitivity of the company to the plight of consumers in Port Harcourt, he stated.
When The Tide visited the zonal office of PHED on Moscow Road in Port Harcourt to get comment of the Public Affairs Manager, Mr John Onyi, he was said to have gone out for a meeting.
But a staff, who pleaded anonymity said TCN could not conclude the repairs and upgrading of facilities, as promised.
The staff, who is of the public affair unit, also said that situation was generating unpleasant reactions from the consumers who troop into their office with complaints
He said the major complaints from the consumers were poor supply, disconnections and high electricity bills. Even as the terrific power supply situation worsen, businesses, residents and other electricity consumers have continued to groan under excruciating energy bills, increasing the cost of goods and services as well as living generally

Chris Oluoh