Staff of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED), on Monday took to their heels following a peaceful protest staged by the youths of Ogbunabali Community in the Port Harcourt City Local Government Area over an alleged incessant exploitation of residents (electricity consumers) through high charge of electricity bill without power supply.
Speaking with our correspondent, one of the youth’s exco, Mr. Gentle Owhonda alleged that PHED has been exploiting them through outrageous bills, adding that they have been holding series of meetings with PHED management to slash down the charges as power supply has not been constant in the past three months.
Owhonda further alleged that one bedroom flat is billed between N15,000 and N25,000 expressing hope that the fight to slash down the high bill would also help the general public from paying such bills.
He also pointed out that the youths assured the PHED that they would help to redeem PHED’s debts from customers who have not paid, provided the high bills issued to them are moderate, adding that PHED generates its highest income in Ogbunabali Community.
“Not because of maintenance we are here, but because they said since we refused to pay bill we won’t see light. Other places like Rumuigbo are used to darkness, so if there’s no light they don’t care. Sometime we put heads together to buy equipment for them to work and even pay them” Owhonda alleged.###
Bennett James
