News

FEA under the spotlight

April 5, 2012 4:30 am

Fiji Electricity Authority’s power sharing strategy following the recent flood in the west is causing frustration rather than providing temporary relief says the Consumer Council of Fiji.

Council CEO Premila Kumar says while they understand that the unfortunate situation is beyond FEA’s control, the Authority needs to improve on the temporary solutions it has come up with.

Kumar says publishing the power sharing schedule in newspapers on the actual day is a little too late for consumers to prepare themselves.

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Dev Sachindra reports.

Concerns have also been raised that the published power sharing schedule by FEA is a ‘show only’ as it is not followed.

Kumar says FEA should stop fooling the public with misleading information and seriously provide practical solutions to the current power cuts faced by all throughout the country.

FEA’s comment that it’s difficult for them to cope with and follow the published schedule because the demand of electricity has suddenly gone up is shocking according to the council.

According to Water Authority of Fiji several of their power pumping stations including Wainibuku booster, Kalabu, Khalsa and Tacirua have been affected by power cuts which has severely affected their distribution system for nearby areas such as Tovata, Makoi, Tuirara, Newtown, Caubati, Cunnigham, Tacirua East, Tacirua 6miles, Sakoca etc.

FEA on the other hand maintains that power cuts should not be affecting the water pumping and distribution. The council says comments from WAF and FEA are contradicting while consumers continue to suffer.

The Council urges both authorities to work together to end the suffering of consumers and accurate and timely information with assurance in confidence is needed from the FEA.

The council says affected consumers deserve a better electricity and water service. Attempts to obtain a comment from FEA CEO Hasmukh Patel proved futile.