The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) has cautioned customers in four states not to bypass its network .
The Manager of Corporate Communication in PHED, John Onyi, made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.
Onyi said that the company had lost huge revenue to such illicit activities by some customers.
The states are Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers states.
He said that the latest of such unwholesome practices was the recent infiltration into its facility by some unnamed contractors in the state.
“The individual claiming to be electrical contractors accessed PHED’s network without recourse to safety standards thereby overloading the existing infrastructure.
“PHED management has set up surveillance teams across four states to ensure that no unauthorised individual infiltrates into the company’s network without following due process.
“So, henceforth, anyone caught using our network illegally shall be prosecuted,” Onyi said.
Onyi said that the PHED surveillance team during a routine patrol caught one Friday Ogbonna in the act illegally tapping into the company’s network around G.U Ake Road in Port Harcourt.
According to the spokesman, the suspect was immediately arrested and handed over to the police to reveal the identities of his accomplices.
“PHED has been facing immeasurable business challenges stemming from vandalism, energy theft and brutality on our staff on duty.
“We are also faced with the challenge of non-payment of electricity bills by some customers who erroneously believe that electricity is free as well as illegal connection to our network.
“However, PHED is determined to deliver safe and reliable power supply to customers in its franchise area,” he promised.
