N166bn debt: Electricity companies begin mass disconnection in four states

The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company says it has commenced mass disconnection of defaulting customers in the four states it operates.

The states are Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Rivers states.

The Manager, Corporate Communications, PHED, Mr John Onyi confirmed this in Port Harcourt on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.

He said the exercise, codenamed Operation Storm, was initiated to sustain and avert the imminent collapse of the company due to huge debt owed by its customers.

“The huge debt amounting to over N166.012bn as of October 2019 is no longer tolerable, hence the need to recover it at all cost. The exercise in fairness will continue until every kobo owed the company is recovered for energy used,” he said.

“To this end, we have created a help desk across PHED offices to resolve and reconcile any contentious bill. Customers with the disputable bill are urged to avail themselves the opportunity by visiting any PHED office closest to them for on the spot bill reconciliation,” he said.

The spokesman urged customers to pay their electricity bills to enable the company to continue improving on its service delivery to them.