The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC)

  • We are fully ready to commence metering, says EKEDC

    Mr Godwin Idemudia, the General Manager, Corporate Communications of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), on Thursday expressed the company’s readiness to commence Meter Assess Providers (MAPs) scheme to customers within its network.

    Idemudia told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the MAP programme would address some of the challenges associated with metering gap within its areas of coverage.

    NAN recalls that on April 5, the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) issued permits to Meter Asset Providers (MAPs) to roll-out new meters not later than May 1, 2019.

    The EKEDC’S spokesman said that the MAP initiatives would bridge the metering gap, adding that MAP was introduced by Federal Government to address metering related problems.

    “It is a welcome development. This would be a new dawn in the power sector.

    “Government should be commended for the initiative geared towards ending metering gap in the country and ensuring all electricity consumers within the Discos are metered to abolish estimated billings.

    “ EKEDC is fully ready for MAP.

    “With the MAP project on, we strongly believe the metering issues will be addressed, while estimated billings will also be fully addressed when meters are available.

    “All areas of our network are potential pilot scheme for MAP.

    “Government appointed the vendors for the MAP programme to drive the project,’’ he said.

    Read Also: EKEDC compensates assaulted worker

    Idemudia also lauded the judiciary for their prompt judgment on vandals, adding that many vandals had been prosecuted and got judgement.

    He said that the debts of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) debts was running into billions, adding that the management was doing a lot to recover the debts.

    “We have metered considerable numbers of customers since 2013 in thousands.

    “We do not consider much hindrance or much challenges in the ongoing MAP scheme, but one thing that worries me is if Nigerians are ready to pay for meters?

    “The issue is either you pay out rightly for the meters or pay installmentally over a period of 10 years,’’ he said.

    Dr Usman Abba Arabi, the General Manager, Public Affairs Department of NERC,  in a statement on April 23. said customers of Discos should expect from the commencement of rollout date for meters to be installed in their premises within 10 working days of making payment to MAPs in accordance with Section 18 (3) of the MAP Regulations 2018.

    He said the Commission would monitor closely the rollout plan of distribution licensees and overall compliance with the regulation and various service agreements by the MAPs and electricity distribution licensees.

    NAN

  • EKEDC attributes power outage to system collapse

    The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has attributed the power outage experienced by some of its customers late on Friday to system collapse from the National Grid (NG).

    Mr Godwin Idemudia, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, said this in a statement he issued in Lagos on Saturday.

    He said that the collapse occurred at about 9.38 p.m. on Friday but was restored early on Saturday morning.

    Idemudia apologised to EKEDC’s customers affected by the outage, explaining that it was not the company’s fault.

    The general manager also denied allegations of mass disconnection of consumers’ lines by the disco.

    He said that those disconnected were customers owing the company.

    Read also : Manhunt for kidnappers of three female students begins

    He warned customers against harassing or assaulting EKEDC’s officials carrying out their statutory duties.

    He said that the company would no longer tolerate the assault of its staff.

    Meanwhile, Alhaji Nurudeen Muritala, the Chairman, Ebute-Meta Landlords’ Association, has urged EKEDC to provide prepaid meters to residents of the area.

    Muritala speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) decried the issuance of estimated billings to residents of the area by the company.

    He urged EKEDC to cover the area in its ongoing prepaid meter installation, adding that the customers in the community were always paying their monthly bills promptly.

  • Ikoyi to experience 5-hour outage Sunday

    The Eko Electricity Distribution Company ( EKEDC ) has announced a five-hour outage in Ikoyi and environs from 10.00am to 3.00pm on Sunday.

    Mr Godwin Idemudia, the EKEDC General Manager, Corporate Communications, said in a statement on Saturday that the outage would enable the company to carry out maintenance work.

    Read Also: Ikoyi Club fetes children at Easter

    According to the general manager, the maintenance work will be carried out on the company’s 33KVA Bus Section 11 at the Fowler Injection Substation.

    “We solicit understanding from all our customers who will be affected by the outage, especially for the inconveniences it will cause them even as this information comes to them at a short notice.
    “Eko Disco promises to keep improving its equipment for better service delivery to electricity users in its network.
    “We implore our customers to bear with us,” he said.

    NAN

  • Fashola urges Nigerians to embrace solar energy

    Fashola urges Nigerians to embrace solar energy

    Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, has advised Nigerians to embrace solar energy to reduce pressure on the national grid.

    Fashola gave the advice in Lagos at a book launch.

    The book titled “Solar Electricity Generation for off-grid communities in Nigeria”, was written by Mr Oladele Amoda, the Managing Director, Eko Electricity Distribution Company ( EKEDC ).

    Fashola advised Nigerians to invest in solar energy as solar energy remained energy for the future.

    “Solar energy is very important to reach Nigerians living in various communities that are difficult to reach by the Disco.

    “We are committed to incremental power and policies that will drive the power sector; Solar is one of the renewable energy,” he said.

    The minister, however, allayed fears of Electricity Distribution Companies ( Discos ) over the deployment of more solar power through mini-grids and other Federal Government initiatives aimed at improving service in the power sector.

    He commended Amoda’s initiative in authoring a book that would address power sector challenges, adding that Amoda was outstanding.

    He said that the book presentation was timely as power sector would start to witness dry session by next month

    The minister said that power generation had increased from 2,600 megawatts to 7, 000 megawatts, while power wheeled out was gradually increasing to 7,000 megawatts.

    Prof. Bart Nnaji, a former Minister of Power, commended Amoda for his painstaking research and knowledge input in a book that would address power sector challenges and proffered solutions.

    Nnaji, the Chairman of Geometric Power, said that Amoda had transformed the power sector under his watch as the managing director of Eko disco.

    He said that renewable energy remained a major focus to power sector growth and development in rural communities in Nigeria.

    He urged stakeholders in the power sector to support the minister in developing the sector to deliver desire results in the country.

    “Eko Disco was the best performing Disco during the privatisation era, so, am not suprised that Amoda authored a book.

    “Am not surprised to see an excellent managing director of Disco understood the prospects and challenges of the power sector,” he said.

    Amoda said that the essence of the book was to create awareness on important alternative energy in Nigeria as Nigerians could not continue to depend on the use of fossil fuel that was given environmental issues.

    He said that renewable energy also reduced incessant vandalism synonymous with conventional energy theft in the network.

    NAN

  • Eko Disco announces five-day power outage in Lagos

    Eko Disco announces five-day power outage in Lagos

    Electricity supply would be disrupted in many parts of Lagos this week as Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) on Monday announced five days power outage in the city.

    EKEDC spokesman, Godwin Idemudia, said in a statement that the outage would affect Ikoyi, Victoria Island and parts of Lagos Island from Wednesday to Sunday.

    Idemudia said that the outage was to enable maintenance crew from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) address technical and maintenance issues at Alagbon transmission station.

    “We want to inform our esteem customers that from Wednesday, May 24 to Sunday, May 28, there will be an outage within Ikoyi, Victoria Island and parts of Lagos Island.
    “This is to enable TCN maintenance crew resolve some technical issues within Alagbon transmission stations,’’ EKEDC said.
    The EKEDC spokesman said that the company highly regretted any inconveniences caused by the five-day outage.
    He promised that supply would be restored to the affected areas as soon as the maintenance was successfully completed.

  • Residents assault Eko DISCO official over disconnection

    Residents assault Eko DISCO official over disconnection

    An official of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), Mr. Francis Idoko, was on Friday beaten by residents of a building on Fish Pond St. Muwo, Ojo, Lagos, for disconnecting their line.

    The residents, who insisted that the official should reconnect them, after raining blows on him, also allegedly untied a dog, which attacked Idoko.

    The DISCO official alleged that the building’s prepaid metre was illegally connected.

    “The house has a prepaid metre but the residents did not go through the right channel,’’ Idoko said.

    “We are on routine assignment and in the process, we came across the building; worked there and continue with other buildings on the street.

    “We were in the adjourning street when one of the residents approached me and requested to know why the house was disconnected.

    “I followed him to the house and he locked the gate against me,’’ he said.

    In her response, Mrs. Afoke Oghenetaga, whose dog attacked the victim, said the residents contributed in buying the metres.

    “Many of us, a few days ago recharged with as much as N6,000 to enable us enjoy the Christmas and the New Year holidays; only for us to be cut off by this man,’’ Oghenetaga said.

    According to her, the dog was not on a chain and only acted in favour of the residents it was familiar with.

    She said the dog attacked the only stranger among them, adding that that person happened to be Idoko.

    On arrival at the scene, the DISCO Supervisor in charge of the area, Mr Kingsely Amadi, who was contacted on phone, said all those involved in the assault mayhem would be brought to book.

    “DISCO has been advising customers to formalise their metres to avoid the embarrassment that can result in such chaotic situation.

    “We are bent in serving our customers to the best of our ability but they too should play their roles to make things work,’’ he said.

  • Eko Disco apologises to consumers over outage

    The Management of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), has apologised to customers within its operational territory, over the power outage that lasted between 5 p.m. and 9:47 p.m. on Friday.

    A statement by the General Manager, Corporate Communications, EKEDC, Mr Godwin Idemudia, on Saturday, in Lagos, said that the outage was due to a major transmission fault that resulted in a system collapse of the National Grid.

    “We are apologising to our customers who were affected by the outage for the inconveniences caused.

    “We assure that measures are in place for the immediate rectification of any fault occurring within the company’s network,’’ the news agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes Idemudia as saying.

    He urged customers with any complaint relating to power supply or any aspect of the company’s services, to lodge such complaints.

    According to him, the complaints should be through the 24-hour Customer Care platform or the social media platform.

    Idemudia also urged members of the public to help protect power facilities in their area, against acts of vandalism by unscrupulous persons.