Residents of world Bank Housing Estate, Umuahia , Abia State have been thrown into darkness following the total disconnection of the Estate by Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC.
The action by EEDC followed the refusal of the residents to keep paying exploitative and exorbitant estimated monthly billing of over N60,000 for each customer who are mostly civil servants, Retirees, privately employed persons, Artisans and a few Traders.
The situation which has persisted for some months now had seen the EEDC rejecting every appeal by residents to return to the 2025 billing which was not more than N12,000 or install prepaid metres as directed by the relevant authorities including the regulatory Commission NERC.
Before the current blackout, residents had taken their complaints to the Government House, House of Assembly and the EEDC via peaceful demonstrations which saw them submit letters to those visited.
Not dissuaded by the present action of the Distribution Company, the residents through their leadership have called on EEDC to once again halt the current wicked billings that do not reflect the actual power consumed and wait for the directive of the Governor, Dr Alex Otti whose office is currently handling the matter.
In a letter to EEDC endorsed by the president of the world Bank Housing Assembly , Mr Chukwuemeka Nwankwo and copied to Abia Governor , Commissioner of Police, DPO in charge of the area and Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority, the people demanded the immediate suspension of all forms of billing pending the resolution of the matter.
While reiterating their desire to enforce and protect their rights, the president of the body called on residents to remain calm and peaceful, assuring that victory is certain.
Speaking with Hanto Daily News, some residents described it as wicked for anyone to bill an artisan or worker with meager earnings to pay such an amount and wondered how such a family will take care of other needs such as, feeding, health, transport, etc.
They therefore called on the government to urgently step into the matter to avoid unpleasant happenings as they are currently being pushed to the wall.
They commended Governor Alex Otti for the measures introduced to ensure the proper and affordable distribution of power and called for the provision of the free prepaid metres which currently is allegedly being sold to people by the EEDC at N130,000 contrary to the free distribution as directed by NERC and announced by the State government.
Efforts made to reach the distribution company to speak on the matter could not yield fruits.
