Electricity company apologises for frequent power outages

The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) said the power outage experienced in Akwa Ibom state — Uyo, Eket, Ekim, and Itu transmission stations — is due to a line fault on the Alaoji-Aba 132kv line.

The electricity distribution company disclosed this in a statement posted on its X handle on Thursday.

“We appeal to our esteemed customers feeding from these areas to exercise patience as the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) technical team is working to rectify the fault and restore power as soon as possible,” the company said.

Residents of the oil-rich state have experienced a series of power outages since the beginning of the year, with the PHED blaming it on a fault on the Aba/Itu 132KV line.

The current outage, which began on Wednesday, is the first time in the year that the distribution company has attributed a power outage in the state to a new line, the Alaoji-Aba 132kv line.

Reactions

The regular power outages in the state have triggered reactions from members of the public.

“Every week the same problem. (This) goes to show the level of incompetence,” an X user with the profile name Etido Godwin wrote, in reply to the tweet by PHEDC announcing the power outage.

“We know this has been frustrating, dear Etido. The issue is from the Alaoji-Aba 132kv transmission line, which falls under TCN’s network. Their engineers are on site working to restore supply,” PHEDC responded, absolving itself of the blame.

“For how long are we going to be running like this?” another user, Tob-express, responded to the tweet.

“We understand how you feel. TCN is working on it. We’ll keep you updated until supply is restored,” the electricity company responded.

Some Facebook users have also criticised the power company for the outage.

“Every eke market day, Biko, who has a generator for rent,” Mekybliss Abia, a Facebook user, wrote, posting a graphic of the power outage announcement.

“Dear 132kv line…. Deal with them. Me I de use candles now,” another Facebook user, Ndiana-Abasi Udom, wrote on the social media platform, throwing jabs at the electricity distribution company.

Reacting to the power outage, a barber along Ikot Ekpene Road, Nsikak Akpan, said he would be forced to increase the price for a haircut.

“There is no way I can buy petrol at almost N1000 and still maintain the same price for my service,” he said, telling our reporter on Thursday that he would be operating at a loss if power is not restored.

Mr Akpan’s comments suggest that the burden of paying for petrol is transferred to his customers, who are also struggling to power their generators at home.

Another business owner, Kufre Inyang, who owns a drinking spot at a police station in Itam, Itu Local Government Area, said the outage is already affecting him.

“My major challenge is that patronage would be low if drinks are not cold,” he said, adding that it is a source of worry for him.

Source: Premium Times