*Arests one suspect
By Amgbare Ekaunkumo,Yenagoa
The Management of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Plc., PHED, has set up surveillance teams across the four states to ensure that no unauthorised individual infiltrates into its network without following the due process.
The management of PHED warned members of the public in its franchise area Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers States, not to access its network without authorisation.
In a statement issued and signed by the Manager Corporate Communications, Mr John Onyi and made available to Daily watch on Tuesday, said the statement is coming on the heels of established/witnessed cases of unauthorized access to PHED’s network by some individuals claiming to be electrical contractors without recourse to safety standards/ implications and in addition overloading the existing infrastructure.
“Henceforth, anyone caught in our network shall be prosecuted.
“Meanwhile, the preying eyes of the surveillance team in Port Harcourt on routine duty caught one Friday Ogbonna who was carrying out an illegal activity on PHED’s network at G .U. Ake Road, near Pearl Garden Estate along Eneka Road, Port Harcourt.
“He was subsequently accosted and handed over to the police at Mini Okoro station and he is now collaborating with the police to identify other accomplices in their illegal journey. It is a strong signal that PHED meant the warning.
“PHED has been facing immeasurable business challenges stemming from vandalism, energy theft, staff brutality, non-payment of electricity bill by some customers who erroneously believe that electricity is free, illegal connection to the network, among others.
“But in all these challenges, PHED is determined in delivering safe and reliable power supply to customers in its franchise area,” the statement said.
