The residents of Umueledi in Old Umuahia, Abia State , on Tuesday took to the street to protest alleged exorbitant estimated electricity billing by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company.
The protesters who carried a coffin with an inscription “ EEDC rest in peace ” chanted war songs and marched around Afo Ibeji Market in Old Umuahia.
The leader of protesters , Chief Amaechi Stanley, said EEDC had subjected the residents of the community to untold economic hardship through outrageous electricity bill .
He said , “ EEDC now advances an estimated bill of N 36, 000 to each household every month contrary to N 4000 being paid before.
“ The burden had become unbearable for the locals , hence their decision to cry out for external intervention .
“ We have been complaining to EEDC concerning the outrageous billing but our complaints fell on deaf ears .
“ We have even gone to the police and the Department of State Services but EDDC was asked to go and settle with us .
“ But since then they have kept bringing N 36, 000 as bill per household every month. We are tired of this burden and we want the government to come to our rescue. ”
When contacted , the Public Relations Officer of EEDC , Mr . Emeka Eze, said he would like to sight the bills so as to be able to react according .
He noted that some times electricity consumers hardly tell the difference between the current bill and accumulated arrears.
Eze advised aggrieved costumers to lodge their complaints about any grievances with the customer service of the organization for redress.
