Government must direct Energy Fiji Ltd to suspend all power disconnections until December 31 this year, says National Federation Party leader Prof Biman Prasad.
He made the comment in reaction to revelations in the EFL 2019 Annual Report that the utility company will cut power supply to defaulting customers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prof Prasad said the party strongly condemned EFL’s decision “not to show mercy to its consumers during these highly uncertain times.
“This decision will strangulate all struggling businesses and thousands of workers either unemployed or have their salaries and wages depleted due to the devastating effects of COVID-19,” the NFP leader said.
“The fact that EFL has decided to outline this policy in its latest annual report, based on its corporate decision to reduce any impairment or losses to a minimum, shows how ruthless this majority State-owned enterprise is.”
He said EFL must understand that many of its customers were now facing financial hardships and would not be able to pay their bills.
He said Government must direct EFL to suspend all disconnections until December 31 this year, similar to the Water Authority of Fiji.
Questions sent to Attorney-General and Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum about the comments made by Prof Prasad remain unanswered when this report went to press.
