Uyo — The Power Holdings Company of Nigeria (PHCN) Uyo Business Unit is suffering due to a debt profile of over N1billion owed it by electricity consumers in the state.

It was gathered that the development has adversely affected power supply in the state. Addressing newsmen, Senior Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs, Freena Akpanusong lamented that the company is spending a huge sum of money to chase its debtors, who are not willing to pay.

To this extent, she said the company will soon commence mass disconnection of houses and business units owing the company.

She therefore, called on electricity consumers to settle their bills to avoid disconnection and other unpleasant consequences that may arise from the exercise which she said would begin next week.

"It is expensive to run an electricity venture in terms of maintenance and power generation. If you don't pay, it will affect steady power supply. Am therefore using this medium to appeal to our numerous customers to pay up their bills to avoid disconnection," she said.

She warned those engaged in illegal reconnection of power lines to desist from the act, stressing that anyone caught would be made to face the law.

She also decried the vandalization of PHCN installations by hoodlums, saying, "The activities of these vandals are affecting our business. The transformers and cables being stolen run into millions of naira."