Consumers groan over power outage, high bills in Ogwashi-Uku

Electricity consumers  in Ogwashi Uku, Delta North Local Government Area have frowned on the recurring power outage and high bills brought  by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (bedc) in recent months.

According to a survey  by the Nigerian Tribune, respondents  expressed disgust at the manner the distribution company reneged on the earlier arrangement to supply light to the community three hours in the morning and three hours at night.

The  survey further showed that residents contend with power interruptions, up to five times in less than 20 minutes before light becomes steady any day they are lucky to  have power supply.

Worse still, many parts  of the town have remained in darkness for months yet the consumers receive outrageous electricity  bills every month.

A  politician of note, Prince Newton Izedunor,  who spoke to the  Nigerian Tribune regretted the abysmal performance of BEDC  in the area, describing the situation as a bitter experience.

“It is  pure cheating, nobody is happy about the poor power supply situation in Ogwashi-Uku,” he said.

The community, through its development union, will be  leading  a delegation to the  company any moment from now just as the palace authority has written, inviting  BEDC  management for a meeting next weekend on the issue.

Public Relations Officer of BEDC, Mrs Esther Okolie,  however said that the company was doing all it could to address  the lingering  power outage even as she  cautioned vandals not to vandalise the company’s facilities.