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PHCN warns against bush
burning
As the harmattan sets in, the Afemesan Business District of the PHCN in Edo
has warned farmers against indiscriminate bush burning.
The PHCN Public Affairs Officer, Mr Oghale Eduziare, who gave the warning,
said in a statement that the company would demolish any property within the
vicinity of its installation and equipment.
Eduziare said in Auchi that uncontrolled burning of the bush and mishandling
of fireworks were capable of causing fire to the company's installations and
equipment.
''When allowed to happen, it eventually results in blackout causing untold
hardship to customers,''he said.
The spokesman said the warning was necessary because the entire Afemesan
Business District fell within the vegetation area prone to fire during
harmattan and the dry season.
Eduziare also warned people in the area to stop erecting television antennas
close to high and low tension lines, saying it could disrupt power supply
and cause electrocution.
Meanwhile, residents of Enugu have described the introduction of pre-payment
meters by the state district of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN)
as a welcome development.
Some of the residents who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said the
meters would reduce cases of over-estimated bills and lay to rest the
resultant disagreement between PHCN and consumers.
According to Mr Peter Udeogu, a dealer in telecommunications accessories,
''with this development, there will no longer be cheating in the billing
system, reading of meters or illegal connection and disconnection''.
Udeogu, however, advised the company to give its customers adequate notice
before installing the new meters.
''There is no awareness on the project by the PHCN and the contractors
handling the installation seem not to be qualified because they destroyed my
computer system and other electrical gadgets in the process," he said.
On the billing system, he said the tariff remainedN4 and N8 per unit for
residential and commercial buildings respectively, but criticised the
N10,000 charged for the installation of the meter.
He said the new device would generate more funds for the embattled company
since those who hitherto evaded payment of electricity bills would be forced
to do so or stay without supply.
''I want to tell you that majority of Nigerians do not pay their electricity
bills, I don't know their reasons but now they will have no option but to
purchase what they can afford,'' Udeogu said.
Commenting on the scheme, the public affairs manager of PHCN, Mr Eseme Udo,
said the meters were being installed on a pilot scheme in New Haven, Enugu
central area.
He said the installation would be extended toother parts of the state in due
course.Udo, who declined to give details of the project,said it would be
launched next week in the state capital.
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19 2006