By Joseph Kingston
Calabar
As the electricity company in-charge of Cross River and environs – Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC), continue to review upward monthly electricity tariff, about 1200 angry residents of Calabar metropolis at the weekend stormed the PHEDC head office, demanding explanation.
Our correspondent who monitored the protest reports that at the head office located in Calabar Road, heated argument had ensued between the protesters and the officials of PHEDC. This almost snowballed into a free-for-all fight.
Investigations reveal that customers with electricity meters pay same amount across board while those who do not have are given estimated bills.
One of the protesters, Mr Asuquo Edet, who spoke to Blueprint, said “Why will PHEDC suddenly increase electricity bill when I don’t even have light for close to three weeks. Usually, I pay N2000 monthly but to my greatest surprise, this month’s bill increased to N6, 560 which represents about a 150 percent increase, and that is not acceptable.”
