The Port Harcourt Distribution Company (PHED) has attributed rising electricity bills being borne by some customers to feeder upgrades designed to improve power supply.

Adamma Ogwuegbu, the head of customer service at PHED, told journalists on Monday that some customers were experiencing higher tariffs following the migration of their feeders to Band A.

She stated that customers whose feeders were upgraded to provide 24-hour electricity were expected to pay the corresponding tariff.

“Some customers are experiencing increased tariffs because their electricity feeders have been migrated to a band that supplies electricity 24 hours,” she said.

Ms Ogwuegbu said the company was engaging customers to explain the differences in tariffs across the various electricity supply bands.

The PHED official said electricity distribution was a business that required operators to recover revenue to sustain their operations.

“For us to remain in business, when we sell, we should be able to recover the revenue that we receive. Failure to recover revenue could threaten the sustainability of electricity distribution operations,” she said.

Ms Ogwuegbu said PHED would continue engaging and educating customers on tariffs, feeder upgrades and the need for improved revenue collection.

She also reaffirmed the company’s commitment to improving customer service and responding more effectively to complaints.

Earlier, Emeka Ojoko, the executive coordinator, NEPA Wahala, acknowledged improvements in electricity supply in some parts of Port Harcourt but noted that the company’s response to prolonged outages and other complaints remained inadequate.

He said customers often had to rely on personal connections within the company to get their complaints addressed.

Mr Ojoko described the situation as unfair, stressing that every customer deserved prompt attention, regardless of personal relationships.

Another customer, Festus Ola, said electricity was critical to his steel production business and that it had experienced significant improvements in electricity supply over the past few months.

“In the past three to four months, we have never had power failure in our factory,” he said.

(NAN)