Charles Esther
Residents of the World Bank Housing Estate in Umuahia stormed the office of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) on Thursday.
They protested against what they described as a 400% increase in electricity bills.
Sudden Jump in Bills Sparks Outrage
The residents carried placards, complaining that estimated electricity bills in their area had skyrocketed from N8,000 to N47,000.
They lamented that multiple letters sent to EEDC regarding the exploitative charges went unanswered.
Instead, they claimed, the management threatened them with disconnection.
Call for Immediate Review
Speaking angrily outside the EEDC office, the acting Chairperson of the World Bank Housing Estate Residents Association, Kalu Florence, demanded an immediate reduction of the bills.
She questioned how a public servant earning less than N80,000 monthly could sustain a family if the high charges were not reversed.
Residents Warn Against Disconnections
Other residents warned the EEDC to ensure there were no disconnections.
They cautioned that failure to act could force the community to take drastic measures.
EEDC Appeals for Dialogue
In response, the Operations Manager, Engineer Amaga, called for dialogue to resolve the issue.
He later held a closed-door meeting with representatives of the residents’ group.
Peace Talks Fail to Yield Results
The reconciliation meeting lasted over three hours but did not meet the expectations of the aggrieved residents.
The community remains dissatisfied with the outcome, continuing to demand action from EEDC
