Tina Amanda
Some residents of Mile 2 and 3 Diobu, in Port Harcourt local government area of the state, have accused Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) of extortion from over estimated bills.
A resident, David Nelson Ordu who spoke to our correspondent, lamented that the electricity bills brought by the distribution company is outrageous, stressing that if the company fails to review the recent policy of disconnecting residents who pay more than half of the huge estimated bill in the guise of underpayment, residents will take legitimate mass action against PHED.
Another female resident complained that they are virtually paying for darkness every month as there is no steady energy supply in the area, noting that they do not understand what PHED meant by underpayment.
Some residents hinted that they are considering peaceful protest to PHED headquarters at Moscow road, to insist on provision of prepaid meter to all energy consumers in order to eradicate estimated and over billing by PHED.
The residents however accused PHED of deliberately refusing to provide prepaid meters for residents of Mile 2 and Mile 3 Diobu despite several enumeration exercise, just as they maintained that it is an avenue to continue extortion of residents through outrageous estimated bills.
Our correspondent who monitored the development in Diobu area, reports that PHED came with Police Personnel to disconnect electricity, including compounds that have paid more than half of the estimated bill issued, while labeling them as underpaid.
Our correspondent also gathered that residents and opinion leaders of the area have called for emergency meeting on the matter.
