NERC, PHED Seek Collaboration With Customers for Better Service Delivery

By Missang AKPET

Stakeholders in the power sector have called for collaboration from electricity consumers and customers for effective service delivery.

This was stated during a 3 day town hall meeting organised by Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) with customers of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) in Calabar.

The NERC Commissioner, Consumers Affairs, Aisha Mahmudmade in her address hinted that every customer who pays his bills deserves to enjoy the services paid for.

She urged customers to make use of helplines and other appropriate channels to forward complains to their DISCOs as it is their right to be served right.

The Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company Dr Benson Uwheru disclosed that to enjoy effective service delivery, there was need for collaboration between PHED and their customers both in security, servicing and maintenance.

Uwheru who was represented by the Head Customer Service PHED, Angela Ajere described the town hall meeting as a reconciliatory meeting which feedbacks gotten from the meeting will help PHED deliver on its mandate.

The Cross River State Commissioner for Power and Renewable Energy Prince Eka Williams revealed that the major issue affecting power supply is vandalism and theft. Citing the case of the powerline from Calabar to Akamkpa, the commissioner hinted that over 20kms of cables across about 200 poles as well as about 20 transformers were vandalized by hoodlums stating that it cost the state government over N200 million to replace them.

He maintained that it is not just the role of the DISCOs alone to safeguard the installations but every citizen and consumer has a major role to play in safeguarding and preventing the installations from vandals.