Mkpoikana Udoma 21 June 2017, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHEDC, has said the recent directive issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, that consumers yet to get their prepaid meters should stop paying electricity bills, is highly misconstrued by the members of the public.
NERC had in the directive advised electricity consumers not provided with prepared meters by March 1 to stop paying electric bills presented by Distribution Companies on the basis of estimated billing.
NERC also directed power distribution companies or Discos not to disconnect any customer who refuses to pay electricity bills while advising customers who get disconnected on account of this advisory to report to the commission.
But the Port Harcourt Disco has stated that the directive was only meant for Maximum Demand, MD, customers (industrial and commercial consumers), who may not have been metered as earlier directed by the regulator with the February 28, 2017, deadline.
The Head, Corporate Communications of PHEDC, Mr. John Onyi, said in compliance with NERC’s directive, PHEDC has as at date metered all Maximum Demand customers before the deadline.