The Enugu Electricity Distribution PLC (EEDC) has launched its Community Empowerment Programme, an initiative targeted at communities, designed to provide reliable, guaranteed and quality service to them.

The programme also provides job opportunity for members of the communities through partnership.

The official launch of the initiative took place in the five states EEDC covers, with Owerri, being the first location; and subsequently in Awka, Umuahia, Enugu and Abakaliki respectively.

Present at the events were representatives of the respective state governments, traditional rulers, President Generals of communities, management staff of EEDC, as well as other stakeholders.

In his remarks, the Managing Director/CEO of EEDC, Okey Nwosu, said that the initiative was introduced as part of its conscious plan to reduce ATC&C losses experienced by the company and at the same time create profitable business opportunity for the community as well as job opportunities for its members.

According to Nwosu, the communities are expected to ensure that bills for energy consumed are paid for in full, while as incentive, commission on the collection will be paid to the group appointed by the community to oversee this responsibility, thereby creating a source of income for them.

To ensure this initiative is sustainable, Nwosu said that the communities will enjoy better power supply with regular maintenance of the electricity infrastructure serving them, and that meters will be installed at the transformers for efficient energy audit and measurement.

During the launch in Awka, Anambra State, the Executive Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, commended EEDC for the initiative and expressed the state government’s preparedness in supporting it.

Obiano, who was represented by the Commissioner for Public Utilities, Hon. Engr. Emeka Ezenwanne, said the State Government will partner with EEDC to ensure that the initiative works, and provide better supply to the people of the state.

Highlight of the launch was the free distribution of energy saving bulbs by EEDC to all the customers that were in attendance, as a way of promoting energy saving culture and encouraging customers to imbibe the use of energy bulbs and to discontinue the use of incandescent (filament) bulbs that consume more energy. The high bill in most of the communities can be attributed to the use of incandescent (filament) bulbs and not turning off bulbs and appliances when not in use.

At the launch in Owerri, Imo State, the Director General, Imo State Power and Rural Electrification Agency (I-POREA), Dr. Albert Okorogu, commended the initiative and encouraged the communities to imbibe the habit of turning off lighting points during the day and appliances when not in use, as energy saved can go to other areas where it is needed.

According to Okorogu, I-POREA was already partnering with EEDC in ensuring that the culture of energy management is entrenched. In his words, “There is a law coming and we are going to ban the use of incandescent bulbs which causes us a lot of problem”

In Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, the Hon. Commissioner for Power and Energy, Engr. Ogbonnaya Uche Ude, while expressing appreciation to the EEDC over the project, said it’s a welcome development in the state. According to him, “Energy saving bulb, although costly, lasts longer once it’s of good quality and will help reduce cost on energy consumption.”

EEDC also plan to take the Community Empowerment Program launch further to communities within its coverage area. Interested communities are therefore encouraged to visit the District Office in charge of their area for further enquiries.