EASTERN PROVINCE GATSIBO—People living in Kabarore and other nearby sectors are not happy these days about the way Eloctrogaz has been carrying out its work in their area. Many of those interviewed say that something “is wrong” with the way power metres and supervisory teams are working and that no one knows exactly what or how much is owed and by whom. Last Thursday, a team of Electrogaz workers were deployed to deliver the previous month electricity bill and to disconnect those that had not paid arrears. But many have had the power cancelled regardless of who has paid or not, it has been said. “It’s not once or twice that Electrogaz asks us for passed years bills that we already paid and if you fail to produce the receipt, you are told to pay” said Patrick Bwanaledge are restaurant owner in Kabarore. “Recently they claimed I had not paid for the bill of May 2006 on facture 137767-007 which I had paid on July 28 of that year at Bank Populaire” Bwanaledge says. One mother who had just given birth to a set of twins said Electrogaz was making life ‘unbearable.’ “It’s really an inconvenience when one goes without power yet you owe nothing. My twins cried all night because I was using a torch they are not used to.” The father of twins Elias Shyaka said that metre-readers “are just being corrupt.” “I think they are after making money out of us because if you want to be reconnected, you are told to pay for the technicians transport to and from” Shyaka said. One Mukandatiye, also a resident in Kabarore had her power reconnected after weeks when she took the receipts that they claimed she had not paid the previous years. Station manager of Electrogaz in Nyagatare Clement Nkuruziza said that the people responsible for filling the bills sometimes mad mistakes and that “this is going to stop.” “We are going to change from this old method and start computing data, which will be a lot easier for both us and our clients” Nkuruziza said. “As for cash power, many people will be able to access it in the coming one month or two and we also look forward to it because it will make our work less hectic,” he said. Ends
