Civil societies, others, threaten showdown in Rivers as residents protest plan to increase electricity tariffs

Residents of Rivers State have protested the proposed upward review of electricity tariffs by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)

The residents expressed their grievances  at the venue of a consultative forum organised in Port Harcourt by the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) to discuss the tariff review with its customers.

Most of the persons, who attended the  forum complained bitterly about the planned review and walked out from the meeting angrily.

The Chairman, Rivers Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Enefaa Georgewill, , said that any attempt to hike the tariff would be met with statewide protest.

He said the distribution company lacked the justification to review its tariff since its licence was at the verge of expiration.

He said: “We are saying no to tariff increase of any kind because PHED as a company has failed and as such lacks the moral justification to increase any tariff.

“We are talking about a company that has been given five years and from all indications their license is going to expire, except they are going for renewal.

 “If they go ahead to increase the bills, civil society is going to protest that increment. We are telling PHED and NERC that Rivers people are saying no to tariff increase and if they insist we are going to down tools and protest it.”

Another angry consumer, Timi Olomu, who walked out of the meeting described it as a sham saying it was immoral for PHEDC to contemplate increase in bills amidst lack of electricity.

He said the consultative meeting was worthless since the company had concluded plans to jack up the bills.

He said: “Whatever opinion or input raised here will not be accepted by them because the company has already made up its mind to increase bills.

“They want to raise money to be able to pay the generation companies since they are only a distribution company because they are currently at loss and they need to meet up by increasing the tariff and nothing will change their minds.

“I am dissatisfied with the meeting because PHED is making a show of a consultation to go and tell the federal government that they have consulted with the people of Rivers State and we have agreed. This is not a consensus and l am walking out of this forum because they are not serious.”

But the PHEDC Public Relations Officer, John Onyi, said the proposed tariff review was a decision of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and not that of PHEDC.  (The Nation)