The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED) Plc has sensitised its teeming customers in its franchise area on the need to adhere strictly to safety practices during the Yuletide season.

Those in franchise area are Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross Rivers.

PHED’s Head, Corporate Communications, Mrs Olubukola Ilevbare, in a statement, said the safety campaign was aimed at mitigating the chances of electricity fatalities and other associated accidents experienced during Harmattan and Yuletide seasons.

She noted that various safety campaigns were carried out through live radio shows, jingles, social media, press releases, fliers, strategic engagements, local media (town crier) in line with global best safety practices.

Speaking during a live radio programme in Bayelsa State, where the safety campaign was recently held, Ilevbare stated that the Management of PHED considers the safety of its customers a top priority and would stop at nothing to ensure zero accidents yearly in her network.

She noted that the management takes deliberate steps to improve on safety campaigns yearly to educate her internal and external customers.

According to her, part of the improved safety measures was the importance of avoiding contact with fallen electrical poles, lines, and driving on power lines.

“Customers and residents should avoid overloading and touching sockets with wet hands. They should stay away from accumulated water around electrical installations and downed wires.

“We encourage our customers to call our 24/7 Call Centre to report any perceived electrical eventualities for swift response to avoid loss of lives and properties,” Ilevbare said.

She also assured that PHED will leave no stone unturned in delivering safe and reliable power to customers in all her franchise areas in this yuletide season.

Also, PHED’s Head of Health Safety and Environment (HSE), Mr Itoro Essienobom, who fronted the safety campaign with Mrs Ilevbare, noted the tendency of wildfires during the Harmattan season.

He also noted that customers tend to be less cautious during the Yuletide season, which comes with a lot of excitement.

This, he said, necessitated the need to embark on the safety campaigns, a practice that has earned the company a position on safety compliance ranking in the electricity industry.

Essienobom cautioned customers to avoid merchandising, living, and parking vehicles under high-tension lines and contact with electrical installations.

He also advis’ed customers against building, residing or transacting business under high-tension lines as well as imbibe basic practices like switching off electrical appliances when not in use.