‘It’s unlawful’ — Enugu faults EEDC’s disconnection of government offices over N180bn debt

The government of Enugu has faulted the decision of the state’s electricity distribution company (DisCo) to disconnect some of its offices.

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), on June 7, issued a disconnection notice to state governments, and their parastatals over a N180 billion electricity debt.

Reacting to this in a statement on June 11, the state government described the actions as unlawful, malicious, callous, and vexatious.

According to the statement, the state government addressed DisCo’s managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) in a letter dated June 11, signed by Chidiebere Onyia, its secretary. 

The government said the publication of the notice of disconnections and the actual disconnections on June 8 were based on wrong premises.

Enugu state also said the DisCo completely disregarded the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) rules and standing order on estimated billing of maximum demand customers.

“Accordingly, the state government notes as follows: That EEDC letter dated 7 June 2024 addressed to His Excellency the Governor of Enugu State that the outstanding electricity bill is N1,319,571,131.21,” the letter reads.

“That the said outstanding electricity bills are estimated billing of Maximum demand agencies and parastatals of the state government carried over from the last administration as the current administration has diligently and promptly paid all bills received from May 2023 to date including 2 months from the carried over bill which it has shown commitment in good faith to settle.”

Enugu state cited paragraph 13 subsection (a) of the NERC order NO/NERC/197/2020 as stating that maximum demand agencies and parastatals customers not provided with a meter by March 1, 2017 will not pay electricity bills presented by DisCos, and are advised to report to the commission.

The government further quoted paragraph 13 subsection (b) of the NERC order as saying DisCos should not disconnect any maximum demand agencies and parastatals customers who were not metered by March 1 due to customer refusal to pay an estimated billing invoice.

“Considering the provisions of NERC Order, the recent disconnections of government offices, parastatals viz: College of Medicine ESUT Teaching hospital, Housing development corporation, State Secretariat, etc. is unlawful, callous and has inflicted malicious damages to the image and integrity of the state government,” the letter further reads.

‘EEDC MUST PROVIDE DETAILED BILLS’

The state said the “acts are vexatious and completely unacceptable”.

Enugu also demanded detailed bills and the accounts statements of the government entities that make up the alleged state’s indebtedness to EEDC “for forensic audit investigations”.

The government further requested an immediate and complete metering of all its agencies in line with the NERC order.

“In furtherance of the rights of the state government agencies, the government additionally demanded a refund of its electricity infrastructure investment from which it said EEDC had made so much money as well as a retraction of false claim of the state’s indebtedness to it, which government insists was defamatory,” the letter reads.

“Following the NERC Order NO/197/2020, the government hereby notifies EEDC management that it will no longer pay any electricity bills based on the estimated billing methodology.

“The government notes that it has carried out electricity infrastructure intervention projects investment totaling N2,979,334,305.19 from which EEDC collects revenue. The government demands payments for the investment costs and other debts owed by EEDC to the government.”

Therefore, Enugu the government demanded an immediate retraction of the publication and reconnection of all disconnected government agencies as the basis for a truce.