Why We Are Disconnecting Defaulting Customers – PHED

The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, (PHED), has explained why it has embarked on mass disconnection of defaulting customers in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers States.
In a release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt, the Manager, Corporate Communications of the company, John Onyi, said the mass disconnection ‘ ‘Operation  Storm’ was initiated by the management in order to sustain PHED and the power sector  from imminent collapse.
He said that the huge debt owed the company amounting to over N166.012billion as at October 2019 was no longer tolerable, hence the need to recover it at all cost.
The exercise according to him, will continue until every kobo is recovered for energy consumed.
“Every defaulting customer in our franchise area will be visited and disconnected by  dedicated Task Force teams on constant patrol “, Onyi said.
The spokesman said he could not understand why the defaulting customers have seen electricity as a social service, adding that the misconception should be changed.
He however, noted that help desk has been created across PHED offices to resolve and reconcile any contentious bill.
The statement urged customers with disputable bill to avail themselves the opportunity by visiting any PHED office closest to them for on the spot bill reconciliation.
PHED also assured its commitment to improve on service delivery to its customers but,  emphasised the need for the gesture to  be complemented through payment of electricity bill.