Aba Power Limited, a subsidiary of Geometric Power, has been losing over N100 million monthly to 14 communities in Obingwa Local Council of Abia State due to illegal connections and outright energy theft by some members of the communities. Aba Power plant provides electric power to nine out of the 17 council areas in Abia State.
Managing Director, Aba Power, Patrick Umeh, in a response to claims by some unnamed persons from the areas that they have been cut off from power supply since last weekend, said: “It is unfair that these persons have failed to honour the invitation from Aba Power Limited to agree on how to end the pervasive energy theft in their councils, which amounts to about N100 million monthly.”
According to Umeh, the electricity distribution company has gone out of its way to ensure that the communities receive at least 20 hours of quality power daily in recognition of the fact that some manufacturing companies are located there and “also of the fact that these communities, during the years when EEDC was the responsible distribution company in the area, made commendable efforts to provide distribution transformers to serve their communities.”
Umeh noted that leading manufacturing and multinational companies in the area producing noodles, refined vegetable oil, and plastic products require reliable power for extended periods to maintain consistency in product and quality control.
He argued that “it is not right for leaders of these communities to refuse to pay for power supplied and consumed on grounds of contributing transformers in the past when the areas was serviced by a former distribution company for the area.
Umeh expressed his company’s willingness to reconnect the affected communities “even this very minute if their representatives pledge to end the humungous energy theft.
“What we desire is to see all the factories, offices and homes in our distribution franchise area receive power for 24 hours daily, and not 20 just hours daily,” he stated.
