PHED Petitions Defaulters of Meter By-pass

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) has reported five persons who were allegedly involved in meter by-pass to the Rivers State Police Command.

Head, Corporate Communications of PHEDC, Mr. John Anonyai, who made the disclosure revealed that a high profile politician in Rivers State, was caught in a high-level meter bypass through deliberate diversion of electricity from the main source to his property illegally, with the intention of avoiding payment of bill.

Anonyai said all the petitioned whose names were not mentioned to avoid further investigation on the matter were all caught in the offence in Port Harcourt.

Meanwhile, the petition was occasioned by the regular financial sabotage and breach of regulations guiding the willful destruction of critical power assets punishable by extant laws.

Anonyai warned that PHEDC is prepared to apprehend anyone caught in meter bypass irrespective of the individual’s status in the society.

“From the investigation by the Revenue Protection Department, it was gathered that the said consumer has been involved in this act of meter bypass for a long time and has constantly denied PHEDC officials access to his premises for routine check until he ran out of luck.

“It is important to note that this politician has set precedence because his action could encourage other members of the public to engage in meter bypass as observed from the alarming trend of meter bypass recorded in recent months.

“Consequently, due to this trend, PHED loses over N2.5 billion to meter bypass monthly which is impacting negatively on our operations to distribute electricity to other responsible customers, Anonyai said.

He recalled that the Managing Director of PHEDC, Dr. Henry Ajagbawa had appealed to customers through print and electronic media to dissociate themselves from meter bypass as such atrocious act is a punishable offence under the law.

“Dr. Ajagbawa cited the ESPRA Act (2005), Miscellaneous Offences Act and the Nigerian Criminal Code as enshrined in the constitution to prosecute crimes of meter bypass and other practices inimical to the operations of service providers.

“PHEDC is prepared to apprehend anyone caught in meter bypass irrespective of the individual’s status in the society noting that this will serve as a deterrent to others.”