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Raymond Ozoji, Awka
The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has expressed its commitment to restore electricity supply to some parts of Awka in Anambra state before the Christmas and New Year festivities begin.
The electricity distribution company said Ifite-Awka, Agu-Awka GRA, Amansea, Ebenebe and Ugbenu were currently facing total blackout due to the ongoing upgrade of the 7.5 MVA power transformer at Agu-Awka injection substation to 15 MVA.
EEDC Head of Communications, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, who disclosed this in a release made available to newsmen in Awka yesterday, pleaded that the aforementioned areas of the Awka capital territory should be patient with the organization as it was working assiduously to ensure that the areas listed above got improved power supply.
Ezeh said, “As a result of this development, our customers in Ifite Awka, Agu Awka GRA, Amansea, Ebenebe, and Ugbenu are without electricity supply.
“The upgrade, which is geared towards improving electricity supply in the areas mentioned, was billed to be completed on 28th October, 2019, but has lingered due to some technical challenges which was not envisaged.
“We sincerely apologise for the inconveniences this must have caused our customers and assure them of our commitment to delivering improved services.”
In another development, the Enugu Electricity Distribution PLC (EEDC) says it has introduced more payment channels for ease of payment by its customers.
The company said it was in addition to the existing Cash Offices within the Service Centers and District Offices across the zone.
Disclosing this also to journalists yesterday, the Head of Communications, EEDC, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, stated that the idea of the new payment system was to ensure that customers pay electricity bills with ease and convenience, thereby avoiding situations where they had to travel long distance to make payment.
The initiative according to him was borne out of EEDC’s commitment to improved service delivery, with special focus on the customer.
He said the alternative payment system includes direct transfer into EEDC bank account, Interswitch pay direct via QuickTeller, E-Transact channels, Energy Pay on EEDC websites and Collection agents, noting that the collection agents have presence in rural communities, with over one thousand locations across EEDC network.
According to him, with these alternative payment platforms in place, customers can easily access and make payments with their postpaid bills or buy more units of energy for their prepaid meters.
He stressed that receipts should be obtained for all payments, either physical or electronic receipts, which is usually confirmed via text messages or electronic mail.
Ezeh therefore advised that customers must ensure they collect and crosscheck their receipts after payment to forestall mistakes.
He advised customers against making payment to EEDC field officers, insisting that all payments must be made through approved channels and receipts obtained.
Ezeh recounted that non-payment of electricity bills was one out of the challenges faced by EEDC in carrying out its operations.
“The business cannot do much if customers do not support it by paying their electricity bills as and when due”, Ezeh said.
He however maintained that customers were advised to avoid meter bypass and energy theft of all sorts, vandalism of power installations, as these acts impact on the quality of service to customers.
