EXTRA: South-east electricity consumers declare indefinite strike over planned migration to Band A

The consultative assembly of the Southeast Electricity Consumers Association (SEECA) says residents in the region will go on an indefinite strike from November 1.

In a statement on Sunday, Okechukwu Obioha, SEECA’s national chairman, cited unresolved issues with Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), including the alleged migration of all consumers to Band A, as reasons for the indefinite strike.

Obioha also said EEDC had not complied with a Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) order to refund N11.86 billion to consumers overbilled between January and September 2023.

He said EEDC had also failed to repair faulty transformers and supply essential infrastructure such as cables, poles, and prepaid meters.

“In view of a report in the mainstream media in the Tribune Newspapers of the 9th October, 2024, that EEDC will be moving all the other bands to Band ‘A’,” Obioha said.

“EEDC has not complied with the order of NERC to refund Southeast consumers of electricity the N11.86 billion owed them by overbilling between January and September, 2023.

“EEDC, having not owned up, started repairing and providing transformers, wires and cables, poles, prepaid meters, and all other equipment in the chain of their electricity distribution.

“The resolution is this day the 13th October, 2024, stated unequivocally that from the 1st November, 2024, there will be an indefinite strike by all electricity consumers (customers) in the southeast.”

‘NO PAYMENT FOR ELECTRICITY CONSUMED WITHOUT PROVISION OF PREPAID METERS’

Obioha said no payment will be made for electricity consumption without the provision of prepaid meters to consumers on estimated billing, and an end to both bulk and community billing.

“No prepaid meter to all estimated billed consumers, no payment. No to bulk/Community billing, no payment. No to the discriminatory ‘banding’ of electricity consumers as envisaged in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We demand a uniform tariff for all electricity consumers in the Southeast,” he said.

“EEDC and Aba Power Ltd, Geometric, must as a matter of urgent importance take stock and commence an assemblage, repair and replacement of all bad transformers, begin to provide wires, cables and poles as required by NERC regulations.

“Refund of credits for all over-billed consumers to the tune of N11.86 billion as investigated and ordered by NERC.

“As soon as our indefinite strike starts, we encourage the NERC and Federal Government by extension, to advise the EEDC and Aba Power Ltd, Geometric to seize from their supply of electricity to all consumers of electricity in the SouthEast until the above required rules of engagements are met.

“No physical protests of any kind to NERC, EEDC and Aba Power Ltd, Geometric offices and installations are required.”

Obioha said the group will use its network to inform and mobilise all the “Igwes, Ndi Ezes and PGs of communities to stay in our abodes, seize from payments for electricity and stay in darkness”.