By CHARLES IWUOHA, Enugu

Some residents of Enugu metropolis, on Sunday, applauded the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) on improvement in electricity supply in the area, urging the company to keep up the good work.

The residents in separate interviews with newsmen said they now enjoy power supply up to an average of about 20 hours per day in their homes, offices and shops.

They noted that they had experienced an average of between six and eight hours increment in steady power supply and fast response in fixing electrical faults in the past one month leading to boost in business and domestic usage.

Mr. Emmanuel Chukwu, who owns a barbers shop in Agu Street, Achara Layout, noted that for almost two months running he had drastically reduced money he spent on fuel for his generating set.

According to Chukwu, "Before I bought not less than N800 petrol daily so as to keep my business going but since the improvement in supply for two months running when I buy N800 petrol I use it for six days."

“Close to two months, I have continued to experience stable supply within my business hours, even if EEDC takes the light, within 20 or 30 minutes it will be restored. I pray EEDC continues with this good work,” he said.

Mr. Mike Ugwuani, a Welder on Agbani Road, Enugu, said the improvement in power supply had made him win the confidence of his customers as he delivers jobs at agreed time and day.

Ugwuani said that the days of excuses, quarrel and hiding from customers was over since he now had steady electricity supply to meet the demand of all customers as agreed.

“Before now, I lost customers due to unstable electricity to meet their demands, but today especially in the past two months the story had changed.

“There has been a transformation in electricity supply and speed in fault maintenance for two months now which is made possible by the EEDC and I want the company to keep it up,” he said.

Mr. Ifeanyi Ossai, a tailor in Nza Street in Independent Layout, noted there had been increased improvement in electricity supply, which had helped him to meet his customers demand.

“Due to the relatively steady supply for about two months, I now close shop by 9p.m. and I cannot remember the last time I bought charcoal for my native pressing iron any longer,” Ossai said.

Miss Gloria Nnamani, a resident of Amaechi Road, said that there had been over six hours additional electricity supply within Amaechi Road and I must give kudos to EEDC for this recent improvement.

“Amaechi Road and its adjoining streets enjoy about fourteen hours of non-stop supply especially during the evening hours of 7p.m. till 9a.m. the next morning before people go out for their daily businesses,” Nnamani said.

Reacting, Head of Communication of EEDC, Mr Emeka Ezeh, said that the recent improvement in power supply was the result of serious efforts and investments by EEDC targeted at strengthening its network and upgrading its infrastructures.

His words: "We are excited that our customers are already experiencing the effect of these efforts and hope they will reciprocate by promptly paying their energy bills.

“The truth is that there is no way EEDC can sustain this level of improvement if customers do not pay their bills.

“We also urge them to desist from those illegal activities that negatively impact on our operations such as meter bypass, energy theft, unauthorised access to the network, vandalism, etc.

“We are committed to seeing that this feat is maintained, we have a couple of projects that we need to execute in some identified parts of our network, which when completed will positively further enhance customer experience.”

Update news