Nigeria news : Don’t pay money to field officers – EEDC warns on bypass, energy theft

Don’t pay money to field officers – EEDC warns on bypass, energy theft
The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, has again advised its customers against making any form of cash payment to any of its field officers.

This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the EEDC’s head of communications, Mr. Chukwuemeka Ezeh.

Ezeh announced that the distribution company has already expanded its payment channels in addition to the existing Cash Offices within the Service Centers and District Offices.

He stated that the idea was to ensure that customers pay electricity bills with ease and convenience, thereby avoiding situations where they have to travel long distances to make payment.

“This initiative is born out of EEDC’s commitment to improved service delivery, with special focus on the customer.

“These alternative payment channels include: Direct transfer into EEDC bank account, this is mainly for Maximum Demand (MD) customers; Interswitch pay direct via QuickTeller; E-Transact channels, which allow customers pay their bills via bank apps; Energy Pay, which is on EEDC website; Collection agents, made up of: Paga, Capricorn Digital, Fetswallet, Fidelity Bank, G-Pay, Vatebra and Fucil Datatech.

“These collection agents have a presence in rural communities, with over one thousand locations across the EEDC network.

With these alternative payment platforms in place, customers can easily access and make payments with their postpaid bills or buy more units of energy for their prepaid meters,” Ezeh said.

He advised that “receipts should be obtained for all payments, either physical or electronic receipts, which is usually confirmed via text messages or electronic mail.

“Customers should not make payment to EEDC field officers, instead, all payments must be made through approved channels and receipts obtained.”

Ezeh recounted that non payment of electricity bills is one out of the challenges faced by EEDC in carrying out its operations.

“The business cannot do much if customers do not support it by paying their electricity bills as and when due”, Ezeh said.