Residents of Umueledi in Old Umuahia, Abia State, on Tuesday, took to the streets to protest against exorbitant estimated electricity billing by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company.

The protesters, who carried a coffin with an inscription, ‘EEDC rest in peace’ sang war songs and marched around Afo Ibeji Market in Old Umuahia.

The leader of the protesters, Chief Amaechi Stanley, said EEDC had subjected the residents to economic hardship through outrageous electricity bills.

He said, “EEDC now advances an estimated bill of N36,000 to each household every month contrary to the N4,000 being paid before.

“The burden has become unbearable for the locals, hence their decision to cry out for external intervention.

“We have been complaining to EEDC concerning the outrageous billing, but our complaints fell on deaf ears.

“We have even gone to the police and the Department of State Services, but EDDC was asked to settle with us.

“But since then they have been bringing N36,000 as bill per household every month. We are tired of this burden and we want government to come to our rescue.”

The Public Relations Officer of EEDC, Mr Emeka Eze, said sometimes, electricity consumers hardly knew the difference between current bill and accumulated arrears.

Eze advised the aggrieved costumers to lodge their complaints at the customer service unit of the organisation for redress.

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