– Petitions Gov, Police DSS Over Transpowers Alleged Extortion, Illegal Operation
By Martin Opara
Respite seems to be on the way for electricity consumers in Imo State who have allegedly been exploited, extorted and treated with disdain by TRANSPOWER, an electricity provided affiliated to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company EEDC, as the Electricity Consumers Advocacy Centre an affiliate of the Association.
For Public Policy Analysis (APPA), has not only organized a sensitization meeting to collect documented information of the TRANSPOWER’s numerous infractions against them, but have also petitioned the Governor of Imo State Senate Hope Uzodinma, the State Commissioner of Police, Department of State Security (DSS) and other state actors over the company’s numerous crimes against Imo people, in addition to operating without being licensed by the Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ISERC).
Speaking at the sensitization meeting held at the Good Shepherd Hall of the Uzu Anglican Church along Mbaise Road Owerri, Monday July 6 2026, the Executive Director, Electricity Consumers Advocacy Centre, Chief Princewill Okorie who also doubles as the National President of APPA said, “I have the pleasure to welcome everyone to this crucial meeting held to enable electricity consumers in Imo State to deliberate on issues of electricity crimes, being perpetrated against them by electricity service providers in the state. We also intend to get the mandate of consumers to enable us handle their complaints, and collate documented complaints on considered infractions. All with a view to presenting the documented complaints to appropriate agencies of government”.
Therefore, complaints to be collated today shall be presented to the national office of FCCPC, Imo State Consumer Protection Council, Imo State Ministry of power, Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ISERC), Nigeria Police Force (National and State), Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps for redress”.
Addressing journalists shortly after the meeting, Chief Okorie expressed dismay over the conduct of EEDC and its affiliates as regards compliance with laid down rules, procedure and guidelines including flouting ISERC’s directives on licensing before operation, disconnection of consumers without following due process, engaging in bulk billing that was abolished since 2016 billing consumers without providing metres as provided in the Electricity Act among other infractions.
He also expressed disappointment that the company refused the honour invitation of the Imo State Police Command while the Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission and his organization made themselves available for the meeting with the police.
APPA’s petition to the governor, the police and DSS, captioned, “PETITION AGAINST ENUGU ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION COMPANY AND TRANSPOWER ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION LIMITED FOR UNLAWFUL EXTORTION OF MONEY, NON- COMPLIANCE WITH ELECTRICITY REGULATORY POLICIES WHICH AMOUNTS TO ABUSE OF MARKET POWER AND CONSUMER RIGHTS OF IMO STATE ELECTRICITY CONSUMERS”, read thus, “1. We are constrained to request the Nigeria Police Force, Imo State Command, to investigate the unlawful activities of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and her subsidiary company, Transpower Electricity Distribution Ltd which has continuously violated the principle of social justice, freedom and equity perpetuated through non-compliance with regulatory policies guiding distribution of electricity in Nigeria. Among the issues are:
(1) Section 42 (i) (d) of Imo State Electricity Law provides that no entity shall construct, own or operate an undertaking or generate, transmit or distribute electricity in the State except the entity is licensed under the law to provide any of the electricity services stated in the Imo State Electricity Law 2024. It is worrisome that Transpower Electricity Distribution Company has not been licensed by Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission. Yet the Company Staff is going round communities of Imo State, forcefully and deceitfully collecting money from consumers, even where service is not rendered. This is viewed as an unlawful act in violation of Imo State Electricity Law 2024 and section 217 of Electricity Act 2023 as amended which deals with false declaration.
(2) Section 58 (6) of Imo State Electricity Law gave Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission power to issue cease orders and levy fines against electricity distribution company that commits abuse of market power. In view of this, Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued several orders on abuse of market power for seventy-seven (77) cases which amounts to the sum of six-hundred and seventy nine million, five hundred and sixty thousand naira (N679, 560, 000.00) since 2024 against EEDC and Transpower which they failed to comply with till date.
Attached as evidence of rulings of ISERC which EEDC/Transpower failed to comply with is the ruling/order given by ISERC to the company in the case of Ohohia Community issued 5 th March 2025. Till date, EEDC/Transpower refused to comply but goes to the Communities to forcefully extort money from the consumers with impunity. This is capable of causing a breach of peace if not addressed.
(3) There is fraudulent billing without complying with estimated billing regulations approved by the regulator which is making unmetered customers pay illegally generated bills. Estimated billing methodology approved by the regulator entails that transformers supplying electricity to customers that are unmetered should have meters fixed on them to enhance transparent meter reading that would show the quantity of electricity supplied to customers to determine the amount of money to be paid as bill. This method is not complied with by EEDC/Transpower.
They just give out any amount to customers in Imo State to pay without transparently providing meter reading for the quantity of electricity supplied to justify the bills.
Also, NERC has abolished bulk billing of electricity consumers since 2016 and introduced de-bulking electricity policy for billing. In violation of this policy, EEDC/Transpower is still giving bulk-bill to communities in Imo State. Worst is that in many communities, their staff go with POS and not electricity bills as the law requires to forcefully collect money from consumers in violation of the electricity law and disconnect those who query their action without obeying disconnection law.
(4) The above enumerated acts of lawlessness and impunity should not be tolerated from a private company in a State ruled by democratically elected persons in institutions. It is pertinent to state that disregard for Electricity Law made by Imo State House of Assembly amounts to abuse of rule of Law and a punishable offence. More so, giving customers bills that are illegally generated and collected in violation of the law is akin to obtaining under false pretenses (section 419 of criminal code).
(5) May we therefore request that you use your good offices to stop EEDC/Transpower Electricity Distribution Ltd from these unlawful practices that may lead to break down of law and order if not addressed because of the possibility of consumers rising against the company one day.
OUR PRAYER: In the light of the above, we pray the governor to kindly do as follows:
1. Direct the Security Agencies in the State to investigate the activities of EEDC and Transpower in Imo State and take appropriate steps to see that their unlawful actions in the State are stopped.
2. Direct Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission and Imo State Consumer Protection Council to hold Town hall meeting with leaders of electricity committees in autonomous communities of the State, to generate evidence based information of atrocities of the company against Imo State Electricity consumers, to assist Security Agencies in their investigation, as well as improve on the State’s Electricity Consumer Protection Policies.
3. Set up Committee of inquiry to look into the consumer right abuses, unlawful extortion and victimization of Imo State Electricity Consumers by Enugu Electricity Distribution Company and Transpower Electricity Distribution Ltd.
May Your Excellency in consideration of your oath of office to provide security and welfare for Imo Citizens give positive attention to this letter”.
