The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) says, some Federal Institutions such as the Police, Army and Navy were owing it over N50 billion in electricity bills.
Chief Executive officer of the company,Jay McCosky, who disclosed this in a seminar on electricity theft organised by the company for some journalists from Rivers and Bayelsa States in Port Harcourt, also said that, the Bayelsa State Government was owing it over N2.1bn in debt.
McCosky said that, the company has already issued a two-week ultimatum to the Bayelsa State Government to pay up its bills or face disconnection.
The PHED Chief Executive Officer, who said that the company spends over N2 billion on network improvement, further added that the amount of money being lost by the company through electricity theft could have been used to improve power distribution in the country.
He described the situation as a national embarrassment.
“It is not only PHED problem but everybody’s problem.
Electricity theft is Nigeria’s problem and every Nigeria must seek for solution”, he said.
McCosky, stressed the need for the mass media to enlighten the consumers on the implication of electricity theft to the economy as well as trade unions, which he said are fond of shutting down DISCOs on flimsy reasons.
He further charged the media to also enlighten the communities on the socio-economic implications of electricity theft.
Meanwhile, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) has disclosed plans for mass disconnection of electricity consumers across its operational areas.
McCosky told newsmen in Port Harcourt, that even electricity lines will not be spared, while anyone caught carrying out illegal connection both in the day time and night will be arrested.
He said that the company was embarking on in-house screening with a view to fishing out all collaborators within the organisation.
John Bibor