By Sam Oditah
Umuahia – The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has commenced the installation of prepaid meters for electricity consumers in Umuahia and its environs, an official has said.
EEDC’s Network Manager, Umuahia Zone, Livinus Mmaram, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia on Monday that the exercise commenced with students’ hostels, banks and other heavy energy-consuming commercial outfits.
He said that the company was also installing the meters for customers with maximum demand transformers.
“Our customers that are into commercial ventures that deal with power and those that have been having problem with estimated billing, are getting their prepaid meters.
“We have gone so far. All the students’ hostels in Umudike, the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture host-community, had been fully installed,” the EEDC official said.
Mmaram said the company had made tremendous strides and expressed satisfaction that the prepaid meter would put an end to the challenges associated with estimated billing.
“The prepaid meter will end the restiveness and incessant troubles often experienced in the South-East, as a result of the estimated billing method.
“Our Chairman, Chief Emeka Offor, has promised that every customer in the South-East will have prepaid meter,” he said.
The network manager said that the company had taken inventory of all the electricity consumers in the zone, noting that everybody would be treated according to the inventory.
“There will be no preferential treatment; every customer is entitled to the meter, and nobody will be left out.
“We have started from somewhere, and we will continue to install the meters as the consignment comes to us,” he said.
Mmaram said that the use of prepaid meters had added advantage of reducing labour.
“The idea of the prepaid meter helps to reduce labour and the problem of carrying ladders everyday and embarrassing the masses.
“Customers only need to buy their card and take their energy; and when it is finished, they are at liberty to recharge when they like.
“Nobody will ask you whether you have paid; why did you disconnect me,’’ he said.
He solicited the patience and understanding of the people, and assured them of improved power supply in the area.
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