The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) said on Sunday that the vandalism of its equipment in Yenagoa, Bayelsa capital, was affecting its operations.
The Public Affairs Manager of PHEDC, Mr John Onyi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa that 10 of its 200kva and 250kva transformers were vandalised in the city in recent months.
He said the transformers were located in Gwegwe St., Ebis Mechanic Road, Ministry of Tourism, Bossy-Water-Tombia Road, Mgbongbon Plaza, Opolo Housing Estate and Sani Abacha Expressway.
Onyi also disclosed that the company was faced with the challenge of non-payment of electricity bills by consumers.
He said the business unit had recorded about 65 per cent loss of revenue in the state since it started operations in November, 2013.
According to him, only 2,585 of the 12,350 registered customers in the state capital paid their electricity bills for the month of July.
He further decried the harassment of the company’s field workers by some consumers, noting that the company could not remain in business if consumers refused to settle their bills.
Onyi therefore appealed to the residents to desist from such acts as the company was working hard to improve on power supply in the state.
He also appealed to the residents to protect electricity installations in their areas and report any suspicious movement of persons around such installations to law enforcement agents.
The spokesman said that the company had improved on its operation in the state in spite of the challenges.
He said: “The Yenagoa business unit admits that the expected 24-hour uninterrupted power supply has not been achieved yet.
“But Yenagoa receives between 34 and 50 megawatts of electricity out of the load demand of 60 megawatts, which translates into 13 to 19 hours power supply on a daily basis.
“What the business unit receives from the national grid is not enough and this has necessitated load shedding in the city.”
