Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt
The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) has commenced massive deployment and installation of smart meters to its residential customers in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers States.
Flagging off the first phase of the metering installation in Port Harcourt at Rumuomasi, the Chief Operating Officer of PHED, Kingsley Achife, said the company would not rest on its oars until all customers are metered.
Achife, who was represented by the Chief financial Officer, Jean Pierre Breton, reiterated the company’s commitment in metering every customer in the network, noting that over 150,000 meters would have been deployed and installed before the end of this year.
He assured customers that all commercial-related complaints would be resolved during the metering period, as PHED reconciliation team would be on ground at each transformer location with a view to resolving all issues on the spot.
â€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 averred.
He, however, frowned at 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.
Responding, His Royal Highness, Eze Nyema Onunwor, thanked PHED by taking the bull by horn to initiate this process by coming nearer to us and we are now endeared to the company.
He said: “We are now aware of what PHED stands and your intention and are will to 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.
“Thank you for bringing it closer to us and we now know that PHED is set to do their work with the free meters,†His Royal Highness concluded.
The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHED, it would be recalled, has metered all Maximum Demand customers prior to NERC’s directive and has now undertaken the giant step in doing same for residential customers.
