The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, has reacted to the alarm by residents of Bwari Area Council, Abuja, alleging that the cut in power supply to the area was deliberate and aimed at punishing them.
In a protest letter submitted by a group of Concerned Landlords to the media claimed that despite the insufficient power supply in the area, the little they get was “useless” as it was allegedly deliberately timed against peak hours.
In a statement submitted, AEDC General Manager, Corporate Communications, Oyebode Fadipe dismissed the allegation, saying that it does not represent the “true and correct position of the situation.
Fadipe called it “unfair and unconscionable” and reiterated that the practice of deliberate power cut due to high energy theft will not be allowed to thrive.
He said: “You would recall that you were told that such a practice apart from the fact that it is not in the character of AEDC, has long been prohibited by the Regulator for obvious reasons.”
Fadipe stressed that the allegation that power was “useless at a particular time” was unjustifiable as power remains useful at all times.
“To the best of our knowledge, electricity is useful 24/7, hence our vision is to be a world-class utility company, providing power 24/7”, the official added.
Noting that bypass by customers was illegal, Fadipe said “It is criminal enough that some persons can even engage in such a heinous crime against AEDC and upright customers who pay for their electricity consumption.’’
Assuring residents of the Area Council of its commitment towards ensuring constant improvement in electricity supply, the company said, “AEDC has not embarked on the disconnection of power supply to an entire community all because of some few bad eggs within the community.”
Fadipe further clarified that AEDC was not bereft of ideas on how to deal with the issue of bypass and energy theft.
“We have collaborated with the relevant security agencies to deal with this menace. We have also collaborated with the judiciary on this same matter while the regulatory authority – NERC – has taken bold steps to deal with the matter.
“With all these instruments available to us as a DisCos, it cannot be said that we are bereft of ideas on how to handle it”, the statement added.
