…Sets for Forensic Audit of Account
The Enugu State Government condemns the outrageous billings and disconnections of electric power of some state government offices by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC.
The state government reveals that since the inception of her government in May 2023, electric bills were promptly paid and a months’ backlog of debts inherited from the previous government cleared.
The government stated this in a letter to the EEDC Managing Director/CEO dated Tuesday, June 11, 2024, and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia;
“Enugu State Government received the disconnection notice published in national daily newspapers. We have also received the information that EEDC has disconnected some Enugu State government institutions.”
“We note that both the publication of notice of disconnections and the actual disconnections on Saturday 8th June 2024 were based on wrong premises and total disregard to NERC rules and standing Order on estimated billing of Maximum demand customers.
“Accordingly, the state government notes as follows: That EEDC letter dated 7 June 2024 addressed to His Excellency the Governor of Enugu State that the outstanding electricity bill is N1,319,571,131.21.”
“That the said outstanding electricity bills are estimated billing of Maximum demand agencies and parastatals of the state government carried over from the last administration as the current administration has diligently and promptly paid all bills received from May 2023 to date including 2 months from the carried over bill which it has shown commitment in good faith to settle.”
“That NERC Order NO/NERC/197/2020 paragraph 13 subsection (a) states: ‘Any Maximum demand agencies and parastatals customer not provided with the meter by 1 March 2017 shall not pay any electricity bills presented by a DisCo based on estimated billing methodology and these customers are advised to report to the Commission.
“Paragraph 13 subsection (b) states No DisCo shall disconnect any Maximum demand agencies and parastatals customers that were not metered by 1 March 2024 based on the customer’s refusal to pay an invoice issued based on estimated billing after the compliance deadline.”
Describing the electricity disconnections in the College of Medicine ESUT Teaching hospital, Housing Development Corporation, State Secretariat, etc. as unlawful and callous, the state government states that the act and publication of same on the daily newspaper has inflicted malicious damages to the image and integrity of the state government.
“Therefore, the government demands detailed bills and the accounts statements/histories of the government agencies that make up the claimed state’s indebtedness to EEDC for forensic audit investigations.”
“The government further demands immediate and total metering of all its agencies in line with NERC Order.”
“Following the NERC Order NO/197/2020, the government hereby notifies EEDC management that it will no longer pay any electricity bills based on the estimated billing methodology.
“The government notes that it has carried out electricity infrastructure intervention projects investment totaling N2,979,334,305.19 from which EEDC collects revenue. The government demands payments for the investment costs and other debts owed by EEDC to the government.
“Finally, the government demands immediate retraction of the malicious publication and immediate reconnection of all disconnected government agencies as the basis for a truce,” the government concluded.
- Governor Mbah Renames Road After Folk Music Legend, Mike Ejeagha - September 5, 2024
- Enugu Stops Collection Of Levies On Alternative Energy Sources - September 5, 2024
- Ministry of Education Enugu Debunks N5m Demand Notice For Private Schools - September 5, 2024