By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Over a thousand residents of Enugwu-Agidi community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra state on Monday stormed the office of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) in its locality to protest the poor power supply experienced in the area, as well as what they described as exploitative estimated billing.

Speaking to journalists, the leader of the group of protesters, Chinedu Onwuora, demanded that EEDC prioritise power supply to Enugwu-Agidi and comply with NERC's mandate to meter all households, saying that the community have experienced years of extortion.

The protesters threatened to continue their demonstration indefinitely until the power distribution company reverses the alleged exploitative policy and address the demands of the affected communities

The protesters while demanding an explanation over the exploitative estimated billing, as well as poor and epileptic power supply in the area displayed different placards which read, “Enugwu-Agidi Has No Light", “We Say No to Load Shedding,” “EEDC Must Respect Our Rights."

Onwuora who is also the convener of the South East Electricity Consumers Association, Enugwu-Agidi chapter, further described the demonstration as necessary and long overdue.

According to him. EEDC had continued to issue high electricity bills to the community without a corresponding power supply.

He added: “We are tired of paying for electricity we don’t receive. It’s pure exploitation. In 1986, we contributed money from our agricultural produce to install electricity in Enugwu-Agidi. NEPA, then, did not contribute a dime.

"We only invited them for the commissioning, since then, we have been maintaining the infrastructure without any support from the power distribution company,” Onwuora said. He explained that for the past four months, the EEDC had disconnected the town’s electricity supply, claiming that the energy was being redistributed to neighbouring communities.

“EEDC prioritises power supply to Enugwu Agidi and that it should fully comply with the mandate of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to meter all households, thereby eliminating estimated billing.

“EEDC charges households as much as N20,000 monthly through estimated billing, even when no power is supplied. This is fraudulent. NERC directed that no billing should occur without prepaid meters.

"They also force consumers to fund repairs by buying wires, poles, cables, and transformers, and still demands payment for installation. Those are the company’s responsibilities."

He however appealed to the Enugwu Agidi Progressive Union to intervene before the matter escalates further.

On his part, the youth leader of Enugwu-Agidi community, Okesabuikem Okongwu said that the town was fed up with estimated billing and the exploitation that comes with it.

He reiterated the youths’ resolve to continue protesting until their demands are met and urged the town union to act swiftly to prevent further deterioration of the situation.

Similarly, the acting president of Enugwu Agidi Town Union, Ozo Chidozie Igwenu, commended the youths for their peaceful disposition during the protest, saying: “I was in Awka when I received calls about protest in Enugwu-Agidi. I had to rush back using a borrowed car. Your grievances are valid, and clearly visible. As a town union, we're not unaware of EEDC’s current activities, and we will never support anything that harms our people.

"Just last night, vandals destroyed cables worth over N2.4 million. If power were regularly supplied, this wouldn’t be happening. Your protest is genuine, and I assure all of you that the town union will step in immediately to address these issues."

Recall that the NERC had in a recent report, announced that the currency rate used to determine Band A consumers' current electricity cost has been lowered by 16.03%.

NERC cited this in its recently released Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) for May to December 2024.

The electricity regulator consequently said that it slashed the rate from the present N1,463.3/$ to N1,277.8/$ due to the appreciation of the naira against the dollar in the past month.

• Residents of Enugwu-Agidi in Anambra State stage a peaceful protest at the office of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company