Tina Amanda
A Labour leader, Comrade Innocent Lord-Douglas, has blamed the Management of Port Harcourt Electric Distribution Company for the slow pace in the distribution of pre-paid meters across communities in Rivers State, as it is the only solution to stop high estimated electricity billing.
In an interview with our correspondent, Lord-Douglas, the Assistant General Secretary, Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC), advised PHED management to take a cue from other regions and states where pre-paid meters are issued to consumers and some little charges deducted during recharge, rather than compel people to pay for meter distribution.
He maintained that estimation of bill has serious negative effect on consumers and PHED Staff, as they are placed on high target and risk being sacked, while consumers continue to face the constraint and challenge of paying outrageous estimated electricity bill for poor power supply.
Comrade Lord-Douglas, however, charged the public to start questioning PHED why all communities in the state are yet to be metered.
“Nobody supports estimation of Bill. I as a labour leader, I don’t support it either. PHED management angle is that people should buy meter, but the problem that I am having which I am consulting management on is if it is true that these pre-paid meter is being sold in other places.
“I have gone to other areas and I see that meter is being given to people for free, though not entirely free, when consumers go to recharge there pre-paid little percentage is deducted. This is the information I got recently. But unfortunately, PHEDC is compelling people to pay and we are trying to take it up with management.
“Communities should begin to ask questions why they are being compelled to pay for pre-paid meters before it will be distributed, they need to know if it is happening in Abuja, Lagos; are people paying for meter or management is giving meter? These are issues people need to expand on and confirm. Go to other Disco’s and compare what is happening.
“I know loan was granted to the Discos. If loan was given to procure these meters and get back the money, what are the modalities of getting back the money? These are areas I have asked so many questions on and I have not gotten any good answers. The only way to stop estimated bill is by getting meter.
“Estimated billing have adverse effect on consumers and electricity workers, because Staff are giving high target
How can a worker be giving a target of eighty (80) percent knowing the situation of poor power supply. People are not willing to pay bills for lack of money.
“I have told management to reduce the target giving to staff to fifty (50) percent considering the availability of supply in the areas, considering that it is estimated, but management have refused to give a hearing ear to us.
The Union Leader further attributes low staff morale, areas where feeders are prone to fault and high loss areas where communities want to use electricity for free as the cause for poor power supply in some areas of the state.
“Low welfare of working morale from the staff, when workers are not motivated they can not attend to faults they are supposed to. For instance, it is becoming a tradition that in December, the Christmas bonus being given to PHED staff in this Region is sack. Few days ago so many workers have informed me that the management is preparing letters to sack some of our workers or force them to resign.
“When Staffs are coming out with this kind of morale it will affect their working motivation with fear if he or her name is among the list of people to be sacked or forced to resign. I have told our members not to sign any letter of resignation.
“There are also classification on how power is being given. There are band A,B, C and D. Bang A are those that are paying and you give them twenty-four (24) hours and above power supply. It all depends on payment, if people respond to their payment very quickly they will boost their power supply.
