The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has taken a firm stance against the excessive billing practices of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), calling for immediate reforms to ease the burden on residents. During a plenary session on Wednesday, Hon. Aloysius Nwodo, representing Ebonyi North West State Constituency, moved a motion of urgent public importance. He explained that the motion stemmed from widespread complaints about over-billing, fraudulent activities, and the lack of functional meters among EEDC customers in the state.
Hon. Nwodo emphasized the distress caused by these practices, urging the EEDC to provide affordable, prepared meters for consumers and to rethink how they bill for electricity, particularly concerning arrears. “The over-billing and fraudulent activities in the service are becoming a topic of concern among the people. We appeal to the EEDC to take note of the cries of Ebonyi residents. They must provide prepared meters at affordable rates and reduce the impact of arrears, which have left many in financial hardship,” he stated.
The Leader of the House, Chief Kingsley Ikoro, also weighed in on the matter, acknowledging the vital role electricity plays in everyday life. He called on EEDC to supply metering systems that would allow consumers to monitor and control their usage, in addition to reducing the tariffs. “We use electricity because we can’t do without it, but it must not come at a crippling cost. The tariff needs to be reduced,” he said.
Other members, including Hon. Stephen Orji Igwe (Edda East), Hon. Victor Chidi Nwoke (Abakaliki North), and Hon. Onyebuchi Ogbadu (Ivo State), voiced their support for the motion. They echoed the need for lower tariffs and better metering solutions to ensure that residents could enjoy uninterrupted and affordable electricity services.
The Speaker of the House, Chief Moses Odunwa, after hearing the contributions, put the motion to a voice vote, which was passed unanimously. He instructed the Clerk of the House, Mrs. Edene Uche Blessing, to send a formal resolution to the relevant authorities, detailing the House’s demands.
The resolution included a call for EEDC to moderate its billing practices, supply affordable meters, address fraudulent activities among its staff, and for the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to more effectively oversee electricity provision in the state. This resolution marks a significant step towards ensuring that Ebonyi residents can enjoy reliable and affordable electricity without being burdened by unfair practices.
The motion reflects the House’s commitment to the welfare of the people of Ebonyi State, standing firm against exploitative practices and pushing for the proper regulation of the power sector in the state.
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