PHED Loses N21bn To Theft Annually – CEO

Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) has said that it loses 30 per cent of its power to theft, amounting to N21 billion annually.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PHED, Mr. Jay McCoskey, said this during a press briefing at the company’s administrative headquarters in Port Harcourt.
McCoskey told newsmen that one percent of the stolen power amounted to N700 million, stating that it was the activities of these criminals that have kept the power situation in the country at the low ebb.
He expressed worry over the insensitivity of the power consumers over the adverse effect of electricity theft, adding that PHED has concluded plans to stop the menace of theft and corruption in the system.
The CEO said that PHED spent N2 billion last year on network infrastructure reconstruction, noting that if the N21 billion stolen money was available, “PHED would have spent more and in addition provided more prepaid metres to customers.
He, however, reiterated that PHED would partner with consumers to identify the energy thieves and bring them to book, “If electricity must be improved.
“We are putting a good platform in place for the customers to report any form of theft to PHED without being exposed”, he said, adding that the company will stamp out corruption even among the workers soon.
In his remarks, the Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr. Jonah Iboma, said  PHED will soon embark on massive disconnection and pulling down of wires of non-paying consumers, adding that illegal connection will attract arrest and prosecution.
Iboma also said that PHED did not charge for installation of metres, adding that it was an act of corruption to ask for payments for installation of meters.
The Chief Executive Officer of Spark Media, Mr. Chinedu Amah, noted that PHED was trying to bridge the understanding gap that exists between consumers and the dangerous effects of power theft on stakeholders.
He said that PHED would soon hold a seminar to educate the customers on how to report corrupt PHED staff and electricity theft by customers, adding that any report made through www.54report.com would get to the management of the company.
PHED covers four states, which include, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River and Akwa Ibom.