Mkpoikana Udoma 10 August 2017, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHEDC, says it has begun deployment and installation of smart meters to her residential customers in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers States.The Disco said it has metered all Maximum Demand customers prior to NERC’s directive and has now undertaken the giant step in doing same for residential customers.
Flagging off the first phase of the metering installation in Rumuomasi, Port Harcourt, the Chief Operating Officer of PHEDC, Engr. Kingsley Achife, said the company would not rest on its oars until all customers are metered.
Achife reiterated the company’s commitment in metering every customer in her network, noting that over 150,000 meters would have been deployed and installed before the end of this year.
He assured that all commercial related complaints would be resolved during the metering period, as the company’s reconciliation team would be on ground at each transformer location to resolve all issues on the spot.
”PHED has taken delivery of 50,000 single phase meters and in few days’ time, another 50,000 meters will arrive and before the end of the year, we would have a total of about 150,000 meters. We urge you to be patient as effort is being made to meter every customer,” Achife said.
Achife who was represented by the Chief financial Officer, Mr. Jean Pierre Breton, however, frowned on the activities of those who indulge in meter by-pass, culminating in energy theft, endangering of lives and fire outbreak, a situation he described as unacceptable and financial sabotage.
He told the gathering that anybody caught tampering with the newly installed pre-paid meters shall face the full wrath of the law.
Also speaking, the Paramount Ruler of Rumuomasi, HRH Eze Nyema Onunwor, commended PHED for initiatiive. He said PHEDC was now set to do their work with the free meters
“We are now aware of what PHED stands and your intention and we will cooperate with you. We appreciate you for this privilege of bring free pre-paid meters to us, this is a well come development.
“The estimated bills we were getting have aggravated us all especially when our complaints are ignored which has made us reluctant to pay.
“However, now that it has been straightened out with smart meters, we will pay what we consume,” the Monarch said.
