Phed Arrests Three Suspects For Illegal Reconnection 

The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Plc (PHED), has made good its warning against illegal reconnection by arresting two persons suspected to have unauthorized access to electricity and one person that reconnected illegally.
The licensed electricity distribution company had, in a press release issued by the Manager, Corporate Communications, John Onyi last week warned members of the public who are in the habit of reconnecting illegally to desist from it or have themselves arrested and prosecuted.
In its determination to tackle the menace of  energy theft, the ‘Operation Storm’, a task force team inaugurated by the PHED’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Henry Ajagbawa visited No.7 Cherubum Road, Off Tombia extension, Port Harcourt and discovered that the premises has been enjoying power supply without paying bills to PHED.
On further scrutiny, the two suspects namely Mohammed Ali and Victoria Joseph narrated how they had been paying to someone they could not vividly give his name or location. They were subsequently arrested by the security agents working with the company and handed over to UST Police station.
s reports that the action of the two suspect, negates the Electricity Sector Power Reform Act 2005 , that frowns at unauthorized access to electricity by the members of the public and punishable by the law.
Luck also ran out on another suspect, Kingsley Reginald, who was caught on the spot while reconnecting a defaulting customer whose premises has earlier been disconnected along Cherubum Road, Port Harcourt. He was subsequently arrested and handed over to UST police station for further interrogation.
With ‘Operation Storm’, PHED has vowed to recover over N172.790billion owed by customers in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers States.
Onyi urged defaulting customers  to service their outstanding debt for energy consumed and desist from illegal reconnection.