Some parts of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, are currently in darkness as the Transmission Company of Nigeria disconnects two feeders belonging to Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company.
The TCN had on Monday announced the suspension of PHED from the Market Operator-administered market due to an event of default that was not remedied. It ordered the Transmission Service Provider to disconnect two 33kV feeders belonging to the power firm from the grid.
A statement on Friday signed by PHED’s Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr John Onyi, listed areas affected by the blackout following the disconnection of the two feeders, which the power firm described as critical.
The affected areas, according to the statement, are State Secretariat, Government House, UTC Area, BMH, Amadi Flats, Moscow Road, Forces Avenue and the entire Port Harcourt Township.
It said, “The Transmission Company of Nigeria has disconnected two critical feeders belonging to Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company in the early hours of Friday, August 2, 2019.
“The feeders are Borikiri and Secretariat 33kV lines with 8 No. outgoing 11kv feeders. A letter on non-compliance and financial penalty from the TCN was received by PHED on July 3, 2019, wherein the TCN alleged that PHED had breached the market rules.”
Onyi said PHED responded accordingly and made spirited attempts to seek clarifications on the said breaches but all to no avail, adding, “PHED also appeared before the TCN committee to make its positions known.”
He said, “Regardless of the above, PHED has already made payment of her outstanding debt to TCN, despite huge outstanding debt by electricity users, a situation that has put PHED in a financial quagmire.
“PHED’s customers in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers states are owing N161.7bn as at close of business in June 2019. Based on the above, social and economic activities, including those on essential services such as the hospitals, security agencies, banks, Ministries Department and Agencies, Government House and ordinary man on the street have been paralysed.”
PHED, however, solicited customers’ patience, adding that renewed effort was underway to bring the situation under control.
“Customers are by this medium also reminded to kindly pay their outstanding bill if any to avert any future reoccurrence,” it added.
