EEDC Organised One Day Customer Engagement Session in Onitsha

By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, today organised one-day interactive session, termed ‘Customer Engagement Session,’ at De Lumen Suites, GRA, Onitsha, Anambra State.

Addressing the customers/electricity consumers, the Managing Director, MD/Chief Executive Officer, CEO, who was ably represented by the Head, Corporate communication, Mr Emeka Eze described the session as a platform earmarked periodically for interaction with the customers towards having improved power supply.

He disclosed that the Covid-19 pandemic stopped the constant EEDC/customer session, adding that it would now continue to be held.

“This Customer Engagement Session is to reach out to our customers and we do this to get direct impact with our customers. The whole idea is to serve you, customers. It is obvious that any consumed power must be paid for now, unlike what was obtainable in the past, during the time it was National Electric Power Authority NEPA, when we off set some of the bills sometimes on our own,” he revealed.

He further said that the EEDC is privatised presently, Southeast receives nine per cent of the power supply and as such will not be enough to be distributed to all, even as it contributes to epileptic power supply but expressed optimism that with time there would be improvement.

“When customers pay for power supply, we collect only 27 per cent of the money paid and remit the bulk sum to the authority that gave us the power supply. Some people don’t even know that we are disconnected if we don’t pay,” he further hinted.

Contributing, Head, Commercial , Central 2, Nwachukwu Obinna, lamented vandalization of EEDC transformers and equipments and urged the customers to always expose such vandals.

“We deliver quality service and want feedback from our customers with a view to improving on power supply. Transformer vandalization affects most consumers, any transformer that goes down affects many.

”Also on meter procurement. If you pay for metre we supply it to you within 24 hours and recover the money through power supply payment. The thing is that the payment you make will be paid back to you,” he explained.

”We bill the customers according to power being supplied, the higher the supply, the higher the bill”,he said.

Engr Dr, Francis Iwu, Head, Health Safety and Environment who taught Customers on safety, listed and explained unsafe acts/unsafe conditions as, leaving electrical appliances on during power outrage, overloading of electrical circuit, unsafe loading of trucks, illegal authorised operation.

Others are lack of grounding or poor grounding, trading/ recreating under power lines, mounting of antenna/bill boards under or close to power lines, planting of trees under/close to power lines,vandalism etc.

In their various remarks, the Head, customer Service, Ijeoma Ogudebe, Onitsha District Business manager, Ojiako Samuel, Ogidi District Business manager, Samuel M. Izuagu, stressed the need for cooperation by all towards improved power supply.

Also, Uju Okafor, of customer service, said that the interactive session was meant for all who live within the three Districts of Onitsha, Ogbaru and Ogidi, adding that customer service centres are scattered all over the three Districts for complaints, suggestions and assistance.

There was questions, complaints, suggestions by customers while EEDC staffs gave answers and responses to them.

some of the customers expressed satisfaction with the session and urged the EEDC not to relent in ensuring constant sessions,among those who expressed their satisfaction included, Uchechukwu Aniebue, Sunday Udensi, Echezona Ike, Dr. Igwenazor Nchekwube, among others

Pic 1 shows the participants
Pic 11 shows the CEO rep addressing participants