UNELCO defends utility billing practices as CBD businesses struggle with costs
February 19, 2025 10:20 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook
By Nicholas Mwai.
Business owners in Port Vila’s Central Business District (CBD) are voicing frustration over alleged ongoing electricity and water bills, even when their businesses remain inoperative in the aftermath of the December earthquake. Many claim they are still being charged despite not consuming utilities, prompting concerns over fairness and financial burden in the wake of the recent crisis.
However, Managing Director of UNELCO, Frédéric Petit, defended the company’s billing practices, stating that utility consumption continues unless businesses actively disconnect their services.
“If you leave for holiday, do you turn off your meter for both water and electricity? If there is a fridge or other appliance still plugged in, or if there’s a water leak, then consumption continues,” Mr. Petit explained.
He pointed out that business owners were informed to cancel their contracts if they knew they would not be operating for a while after a disaster.
“After the earthquake, if a building has been damaged and water is leaking, that contributes to the bills. That is why we have put out notices to all businesses in town, as well as those in Efate and residential areas, urging them to cancel their contracts if they identify leaks or damaged power lines,” he said.
UNELCO assured they have been working closely with affected businesses, offering refunds where appropriate and facilitating reconnections when requested.
“We are refunding customers for the consumption they didn’t use. Once businesses or homes are ready to restore services, we can reconnect power and water within four working hours,” Petit confirmed.
He acknowledged that many businesses in the CBD have opted to cancel their contracts, especially in areas where extensive damage was reported, saying, “In the case of the CBD, we have been working on multiple recovery efforts, including fixing water leakages, repairing damaged transformers, and assisting with the demolition of heavily affected buildings.”
UNELCO has been addressing safety concerns by disconnecting damaged transformers, especially in buildings set for demolition, such as Lolam House, Olympic Hotel, and Chantillys on the Bay. Petit explained that high-voltage live wires pose risks when left unattended and consume high amounts of power if not disconnected properly.
Additionally, UNELCO is working to balance power supply for buildings that share transformers with damaged structures. “If a transformer supplies power to both damaged and undamaged buildings, we need to find ways to ensure electricity is available for those who still need it,” the Managing Director said.
