It’s Illegal To Disconnect Electricity Without 10 Days Notice – FCCPC

According to the FCCPC, no energy distribution company (Disco) has the power to disconnect a customer without first issuing a notice for at least 10 working days from the date of delivery of their bill.

The commission further stated that Disco must notify the customer in writing before disconnecting the electrical supply and that upon settlement of an overdue bill, it must reconnect the client within 24 hours.

At a four-day electricity consumer complaint resolution forum in Calabar, Cross River State, yesterday, the Executive Vice Chairman of Port Harcourt Energy Distribution Company,  Babatunde Irukera,  , decried the appalling service offered by PHED in Calabar and its surrounds yesterday at a four-day electricity consumer complaint resolution forum in Calabar, Cross River State.

He said that PHED has to enhance its service based on its interactions with individuals and that their success is assessed not by what they create but by customer happiness.

He chastised PHED for inadequate service delivery, calling the service provided to Cross River State citizens oppressive in light of reports they received on a variety of concerns, including mass disconnection carried out by the firm without recourse to the law.

He emphasized that it is prohibited for customers to purchase transformers, which then become PHED property.

His words: “I want to convey to you the incredible displeasure of the people of Cross River, according to them especially the governor, if they have their way, they will prefer the that PHED does not operate in the state.

“The massive disconnection of communities because of debt is not only illegal, it is outrageous, and an abuse of the people’s right, disconnecting the whole community is oppressive.

“There are people in that same community who are consistent, so it is injustice and unfair to also disconnect them.

“Any business that cannot satisfy its consumers is preparing to die. Allowing consumers to pay tariffs without a commensurate electricity supply is against the law.

“The problem of compelling consumers to pay electricity bills is tantamount to oppressing and extorting them illegally from consumers.

“What PHED is doing is by forcing customers to pay bills is just to make all agencies fail. 

“The commercial contract we have is between the citizens and the power distribution companies, and that is acceptable. People pay for a service, and it is mandatory to provide what they have paid for.”