By Jeff Agbodo, Abakaliki
A coalition of civil society organisations in Ebonyi State has threatened legal action against the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) over alleged illegal billing practices, indiscriminate disconnections and other complaints by electricity consumers.
The coalition, led by the Human Rights Volunteer Corps (HRVC), Ebonyi State Chapter, made the threat during a briefing with journalists in Abakaliki.
Other members of the group include the Human Rights Action Group, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Good Living Initiative (GLI), and the Victims of EEDC Overbilling, Ebonyi State.
Leader of the coalition, Prof. Joseph Agbo, alleged that electricity consumers in the state had suffered years of overbilling, arbitrary disconnections and other irregularities.
He said the decision to seek judicial intervention followed the failure of several petitions and mediation efforts submitted to the EEDC Ebonyi District office, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and the Ebonyi State Ministry of Justice to resolve the complaints.
“We have decided to seek redress in the court of law because we believe the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man.
“We will seek justice for victims of overbilling and other unjust treatments allegedly meted out to electricity consumers in Ebonyi,” Agbo said.
He accused the company of estimated overbilling, disconnection of customers without due notice, alleged insertion of unlawful arrears into prepaid meters, refusal to bill some postpaid customers based on meter readings and arbitrary tariff practices.
Agbo also alleged that some EEDC staff and marketers collected electricity payments through Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals under questionable circumstances, while some consumers were denied access to statements of account needed to verify their bills.
He called on NERC to establish an independent inquiry into EEDC’s operations in Ebonyi and ensure compensation and refunds for affected customers where necessary.
The coalition also appealed to the Ebonyi State House of Assembly and Governor Francis Nwifuru to intervene in the matter in the interest of electricity consumers.
Responding, Head of Communications, Eastland Electricity Distribution Limited (EEDL), a subsidiary of EEDC, Ezeagu, said the company remained committed to service excellence and operated within the regulatory framework established by NERC.
She said EEDL applied the NERC-approved billing methodology for customers without prepaid or functional postpaid meters.
“We are aware of the press briefing and allegations raised by a certain group regarding our operations in the state.
“Any grievances regarding billing should be channelled through our formal customer service platforms for immediate investigation and resolution,” she said.
Ezeagu added that the company had conducted extensive bill reconciliation exercises across its coverage areas, leading to the adjustment and offsetting of millions of naira in billing discrepancies.
She assured customers that the company remained committed to ensuring accurate billing and improved service delivery.
