Call to help users

NFP receives complaints about EFL disconnecting power

THE National Federation Party has called on Energy Fiji Ltd to help consumers and small businesses in distress which are unable to pay their electricity bills.

According to NFP Leader Professor Biman Prasad the party has received many complaints in the last few weeks about EFL disconnecting power for non-payment of bills during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Small businesses and consumers are in distress,” he said.

“Their incomes have been drastically cut, in some cases to nothing. But EFL has no scheme to help them.

“EFL has no plan to help customers through the crisis. It threatens to cut power if payment is not made.”

The NFP leader said power was a basic necessity and without it people may go without food, education and information.

“Right now people must get critical health information by television, radio and through their phone. They cannot do this without electricity.

“Electric light supports education. It improves the safety and security of vulnerable people, including women and children.

“EFL is a monopoly. It provides an essential service. But look at its website – nothing. EFL behaves as if this is a normal time. In reality thousands are suffering, including its own customers.

“Most EFL customers must pay deposit to EFL for connection. The deposit is usually the cost of two months’ supply of power.”

He added EFL demanded this money before it would install a connection.

He also said it held the deposits and it earned interest from its banks from this money.

“It does not pass this interest back to the consumers, as happens in other countries.

“And now it is time for EFL to recognise its customers and give them some relief. It can, for example, pay down their power bills from the deposits that are held.

“Where deposits are exhausted, EFL should work with the Government to give consumers and small businesses grants, discounts or loans to help to keep the power on.

“If the Government can borrow hundreds of millions to keep some planes on the ground, it can find the money to keep people’s power connected.

“The Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission regulates monopolies like EFL. The FCCC must step up and look at EFL’s current commercial practices. It must help EFL to work out a scheme to support consumers and businesses through the current health and economic crisis.”

Prof Prasad said EFL must also step up.

“It must set up a transparent, simple plan to help its distressed customers. It must put it on its website so that all can see it. And it must put it into action. There is no time to waste.”

Questions sent to EFL on Tuesday morning remain unanswered when this paper went to press last night.