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Tag: Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC)

  • Enugu Disco inaugurates 100 change ambassadors

    The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has inaugurated 100 Change Ambassadors within its workforce with a view to driving the company’s Transformational Culture Change Initiative.

    The Change Ambassadors, who have undergone week-long training on human relations and integrity, were selected from 18 district areas of the company in the five Southeast states.

    Inaugurating the Change Ambassadors in Enugu, Dr Steve Dike, a member of EEDC Board of Directors, said that after a survey in the company it was clear that there was a great need to change attitudes and culture of work.

    Dike, who congratulated the Change Ambassadors for being chosen to lead the transformational initiative, charge them to live above board and ensure that negative deeds that questions the integrity of the company are stopped.

    “The Change Ambassadors, who I will refer to as Your Excellences in this company, now carries the corporate image of the company personified with them and must lead by example and correct others.

    “You people have the full support of the Board as you carry out your monitoring and correction especially with focus on treating our esteemed customers as king with due courtesy they supposed to get from us.

    “You have the power to warn and correct any erring staff as well as sending those that dress like touts back home as many times they are not properly dressed.

    “There must be discipline, courtesy and integrity in our business especially as it relates to our esteemed customers,” he added.

    The Managing Director of EEDC, Mr Okey Nwosu, said that the journey to have a change of orientation in attitude started in January when the Board deployed consultants to look on how to improve service delivery to its customers.

    “With extensive interview with staff and customers, they came out with the fact that most of the problem the company face with its esteemed customers was that of negative attitude to work on the part of our staff.

    “So, we have a mandate from the Board to change our attitude and ensure we uphold integrity in all we do; which will make the customers empathy with any challenge we might be going through as a company.

    “From today, we must communicate to our customers that we are a rebranded and changed both in words and deeds,” he said.

    Mr Emeka Ezeh, Head, Communications of EEDC and one of the Change Ambassadors, assured the management and Board that the ambassadors would live up to expectation.

    “We are committed to ensure that Transformational Culture Change Initiative trickles down to our district and area offices scattered in the entire South-East,” Ezeh said.

    Among the Change Ambassadors are district and area managers, some field staff with exemplary conduct, human resources staff and some heads of units and departments.

    The highlights of the event included launch of EEDC Culture Handbook and the unveiling of the Core Value of EEDC, which are Integrity, Customers Focus, Professionalism and Innovation.

  • Man electrocuted in Anambra

    A suspected cable vandal was electrocuted on Sunday while attempting to vandalise an armoured cable at Ezinifite, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    The deceased, whose name could not be ascertained as at last night, attempted to remove the armoured cable when the wire exploded and electrocuted him.

    The installation is owned by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC).

    Police spokesperson Haruna Mohammed said the suspect died on the spot.

    Read Also: Wanted: More male teachers in Anambra schools

    He said: “About 7am today, there was a report at Aguata Police Station, through the vigilance commander in Ezinifite that a suspected cable vandal, whose identity is yet to be ascertained, wanted to vandalise one of their EEDC transformer installation at Ezinifite.

    “But he was unlucky as the cable exploded and electrocuted him instantly. Police patrol team, led by the DPO of Aguata division, SP Ayeni Oluwadare, visited the scene and the vandal was rushed to the General Hospital in Aguata where he was confirmed dead on arrival.

    “Meanwhile, the EEDC office was contacted, body photographed and deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.”

    Mohammed added that investigation had begun to ascertain the vandal’s identity and circumstances surrounding the incident.

  • Disco officially selling metres

    Prepaid metres are now officially for sale by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC).

    A statement by the Head of Communication, Emeka Ezeh, described it as Meter Asset Provider (MAP) programme, and urged customers to take advantage of the initiative and get their pre-paid meters within 10 days.

    According to him, the meters would cost N36,991.50k for single phase and N67,055:85k for  three phases, exclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT).

    Ezeh said the company had been working with its MAP provider, Mojec International Limited, to ensure “the experience is smooth and easy for its customers”.

    He said: “For customers to get started, they are expected to visit the EEDC District Office in charge of their area from June 15, to pick up the meter application form. The forms, which are serialized, will be issued to customers free and should not be photocopied, as the photocopied version will not be treated.

    Read Also: Enugu Disco is a joke

    “Once the customer completes the form and returns same to the customer service representative, the pre-survey process will be initiated, after which the customer will be issued a Demand Note with which to pay for the “Once payment is made, the company’s MAP provider is under obligation to meter the customer within 10 days. Customers are therefore advised to only make payment into a dedicated bank account that will be provided to them, and not to any individual or group.

    “It is important to reiterate that the meter application form is issued at no cost, and customers should make payment to designated bank account that will be provided to them through the Demand Note, they should on no account pay to any worker of the MAP or EEDC.”

  • Enugu Disco staff caught stealing prepaid metres

    Luck ran out of three staff of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) as they were caught red handed stealing meters belonging to the company.

    The suspects who were identified as Godswill Nnanna, Odianya Chukwudi and Friday Nnanna were arrested at EEDC maintenance center by an eagle eyed member of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at Independence layout, Enugu.

    Parading the suspects, the Enugu state commandant, Chinwe Kannu said: “We arrested these three young men at the maintenance centre of the EEDC at Independence layout.”

    Kannu said luck ran out of the suspects when one of her men discovered a suspicious movement on a public holiday at the premises of the EEDC.

    “The movement was that of a staff of the EEDC who on confrontation, informed the NSCDC personnel that he was in the office to take delivery of a truck of meter and some other materials.

    “After a while the EEDC official emerged with a carton containing two units of meter which raised the curiosity of my personnel who immediately demanded to know where he was heading to with the prepaid meters on a public holiday.

    “Upon interrogation our personnel discovered that different calls started coming into our suspect phone. He suspected the calls to be that of his accomplices ready to take custody of the meters.

    “Based on our investigation we discovered that the three suspects were former employees of NEPA.

    Read Also: Three illegal hospitals shut down in Enugu

    “One of our mandates is to protect all government infrastructures.

    “We recovered two vehicles; One Hilux van, Mercedes 190 with registration number AG 401 KMC, 4 pump actions among other things from the suspects.

    Godswill Nnanna (EEDC staff) confessed that: “I am a contract staff of the EEDC. I was caught with two units of meters belonging to EEDC which I planned to give to someone who has been persuading me to give him some meters. What he does with or where he will take it to I don’t know.

    I had initially given him two burnt meters after which he demanded for this two at N30, 000.  I was about to give it to him before I was caught. It was out of frustration and family issues that I got myself involved in this act.

    Odianya Chukwudi his accomplice said: “I got involved when a customer who desperately needed a meter came to me, so I arranged with Godswill who provided me with two burnt meters at N2, 000.

    “I had previously worked with PHCN and NEPA so I know the working of installing meters. I have been helping people who have been complaining of outrageous billing from estimation”.

    While Friday Nnanna in whose possession the NSCDC the Hilux van, 4 pump actions among other things were seen, claimed innocence, he stressed that he had no business with meter theft.

    “I am the commander neighbourhood watch at Enugu East senatorial zone. “I don’t have any business with the meters. My only involvement was with Chukwudi who once provided me with twelve meters.

    “I was a former staff of NEPA and I know EEDC would not have delivered the meters within the two weeks Chukwudi handled the delivery to me.

    “This morning, Chukwudi called me asking me to bring a bill that he has lost the account number; it was in the process of handing the bill to Chukwudi that I was arrested”, he said.

    The commandant added that NSCDC would prosecute the three suspects.

  • ‘Awka residents to enjoy 15-hr daily power supply’

    Anambra state government on Saturday said plans has been concluded to ensure minimum of 15-hours daily electricity supply to Awka, the state capital and environs.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Utilities, Mr. Victor Meju made the disclosure to newsmen in his office in Awka.

    He said government had extended support to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to facilitate installation of adequate transformers in many communities across the state to improve power supply.

    Read Also: Man nabbed with human parts in Awka

    He said, “With the support of the state Ministry of Public Utilities, EEDC is currently installing a 15 Mega Voltage Amp (MVA) in Agu-Awka.

    “Another 17.5 MVA is being installed at the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), Awka to drastically improve electricity supply in areas like Government House, Ifite Awka, Okpuno, Nodu, Isuanocha, Agu-Awka, among others.”

    Meju however hinted that government would also extend help to other towns in the state to make the entire Anambra an envy of all.

  • EEDC commences upgrade of injection sub-stations in Enugu, Awka

    Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has commenced upgrade of its Agu-Awka Injection Sub-station from 7.5MVA to 15MVA capacity, having taken delivery of a brand new 15MVA power transformer.

    “This is coming in less than 24 hours after upgrade of Ebeano Tunnel Injection Sub-station in Enugu from 7.5MVA to 15MVA capacity was completed,’’ Head of Communications, EEDC, Mr Emeka Ezeh, said in a statement on Saturday in Enugu.

    Ezeh said that the upgrades were meant to match the rapid increase in electricity load demand by customers, as well as significantly improve the quality of power supply to the affected areas.

    He said that the upgrade of Agu-Awka Injection Sub-station was planned to last for three days, adding that it would commence on Saturday, April 6.

    According to him, as a result of this development, electricity customers served by the sub-station will be out of supply during the period of the upgrade.

    “The areas to be affected are Agu-Awka GRA, UniZik, parts of Nkwele Awka, Amenyi Awka, CBN area, Juhel Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Millennium Industry and Nodu Okpuno.

    “EEDC, therefore, appeals to its customers to make alternative power supply arrangements during the period of the upgrade and sincerely apologise for the inconveniences this will cause her esteemed customers in Awka.

    Read Also: Teenager raped to death in Enugu

    “It is all geared towards improving the quality of service we offer to our customers,’’ Ezeh said.

    The EEDC spokesman also added that these capital intensive upgrades embarked on by the company were in addition to the ongoing construction of a 1 x 7.5MVA Injection Substation at ABS, Awka.

    He noted that the 1 x 7.5MVA Injection Substation at ABS, Awka would improve electricity supply to Okpuno, Isuaniocha, Mgbakwu, Urum, Amanuke and the university communities.

    “These efforts underscore our organisation’s commitment to strategically addressing the power supply needs of our customers.

    “Customers are also encouraged to reciprocate this gesture by paying their electricity bills and desist from acts capable of undermining the efforts of the company in providing quality and reliable service to its esteemed customers,’’ he said.

    In 2018, EEDC delivered major network enhancement projects ranging from de-loading of feeders, deployment of relief transformers and replacement of failed transformers.

    In Enugu State, EEDC completed and commissioned the 1 x 7.5 MVA Nike Lake Injection Substation at Nike, and also constructed three feeders to improve supply to her customers in Nsukka, they are the UNN 33KV, Orba 33KV and Wilson 11KV feeders.

    This has significantly improved power supply to the area and resulted to the deloading of Eha Amufu 33KV line, with resultant improved supply in Ehamufu, Ikem and some communities in Ebonyi State.

    NAN

  • Power: EEDC urges customers to embrace smart prepaid meters

    The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company ( EEDC ) on Tuesday blamed the rejection of smart prepaid meters by some customers on ignorance.

    Mr Emeka Eze, Head of Communication of EEDC, expressed the view at a forum organised by the company for its customers in Ekwulobia Business District in Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area.

    He said that using prepaid meter enables a customer to pay for the exact amount of energy consumed.

    Eze said the EEDC issues prepaid meters free of charge to customers, urging them not to induce any staff to get it.

    The spokesman said the process of installing such meters for customers was on top gear, assuring those that had applied would soon get theirs.

    He said the company needs N70 billion to meter all its customers, promising a more robust service in electricity supply to those in its network.

    Eze said the EEDC was determined to ensure value for the money the customers pay for electricity, urging those who receive bills to pay regularly.

    Mr Eugene Nwankwo, a customer, said epileptic power supply was a major problem and they sometimes had to pay even when they were in total darkness.

    Nwankwo called for a load shedding schedule, to enable communities and individuals on bulk and estimated billing to track supply.

    Another customer, Mr Nwosu Nwosu from Oko, said officials of EEDC were demanding money from his community to install a transformer donated to them.

    Nwosu thanked the distribution company for organising the forum and expressed hope that it would lead to a better relationship and service delivery.

    In his comment, Mr Frank Ejiofor, who was the chairman of the occasion, said the forum was the first in 2018, and was geared toward serving EEDC customers better.

    Ejiofor who is the Head of Security in the company, decried acts of vandalism on EEDC installation and attacks on its personnel, saying these impede progress.

    Participants at the forum include community leaders, residents associations, the business community and other stakeholders.

    NAN

  • House Committee promises adequate funding for TCN projects

    The House of Representatives Committee on privatisation has assured that it will make adequate budgetary provision to complete all on-going Transmission Company of Nigeria ( TCN ) power projects in the country.

    The Chairman of the committee, Hon. Ahmed Yerima, gave the assurance when he led members to an over-sight function and interaction with management of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company ( EEDC ) on Monday in Enugu.

    Yerima noted that the on-going TCN power projects were critical to the social and economic growth of the country.

    “We are looking for a way to meet all the TCN budgetary needs for the completion of their numerous on-going projects at various degrees of completion to ensure stable power supply in the country.

    “These projects are critical to the economic and social growth of the country.

    “When completed and put to use, it will translate to more jobs, employments, profits, more money, security and general well-being of our people in the country,” he said.

    The chairman also said the committee would consider an all-encompassing legislature that would checkmate energy theft in the country.

    “It is basically a moral issue for people not to do the right thing like paying for electricity they had consumed.

    “We have decided to look at the issue of energy theft from a broader view. We will see what we can do on it,” he said.

    Yerima said the committee had fruitful deliberations with the management of EEDC, especially on issues hindering the progress of the company and service delivery to the people.

    “It was a fruitful session with the EEDC management, as we came purposefully to see, hear, interact and find a common ground to improve power supply for the good of Nigerians.

    “It is a known fact that the power sector is the key driver of the economy as well as other socio-political necessities meant to better the lives of Nigerians,’’ he added.

    Earlier, the Acting Managing Director of EEDC, Mr Paul Okeke said the company had improved its operations, using smart meters, customer service, ease of payment and reduced time of repairs of faulty installations.

    Okeke said in spite of the achievements, there were so many challenges facing the company, adding that energy theft was one of its major problems.

    “I will implore the lawmakers to enact a law that will put stringent penalty on people that engage in energy theft.

    “In the same vein, I would like the committee to come up with legislation to establish a special court for prosecution of those who engage in energy theft,’’ he appealed.

    The committee also inspected EEDC’s smart meter assembling section and smart meter monitoring network room.

    NAN

  • Vandalism: EEDC secures conviction, remand of offenders

    Vandalism: EEDC secures conviction, remand of offenders

    The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company ( EEDC ) has secured the conviction of one person and remand of two others in Enugu Maximum Prisons over vandalism within the past two weeks.

    Mr Emeka Ezeh, the EEDC’s Head of Communications, said in a statement in Enugu on Sunday that vandalism was on the increase in the zone.

    “At the Federal High Court, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, one Abdulkarim Haruna, was sentenced to one year imprisonment by Justice Mohammed Lawal-Abubakar for vandalizing earthen copper cables property of EEDC.

    “Chinonso Nwankwo who was arrested for vandalising Solid Base Sub-station located in Udoye by Mba Nwangwu Street, Trans-Ekulu in Enugu was arraigned by the police at Chief Magistrate Court 8, presided over by Magistrate C. E Ugwu (Mrs).

    “He was subsequently remanded at Enugu Maximum Prisons.

    “Furthermore, Nnamdi Madu who vandalized Umuatugboma Sub-station, located at Akegbe in Nkanu West LGA was arraigned at Enugu Magistrate Court.

    “He was slammed with one count charge of vandalism under section 1 (9) of miscellaneous offences Act cap. M17 laws of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.

    “The magistrate subsequently directed that the vandal be remanded at Enugu Maximum Prisons,’’ he said.

    According to him, youths engaged in the act of vandalism have refused to heed the call by EEDC to shun this act and engage in meaningfully ventures.

    Ezeh said that the company would intensify collaboration with critical stakeholders, vigilante groups and other security agencies in curtailing vandalism in the zone.

    “Customers are therefore encouraged to be on the alert and join hands with EEDC in protecting these installations serving them,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Police nab 12 for stealing EEDC’s property

    Police nab 12 for stealing EEDC’s property

    The Police have arrested 12 persons over alleged vandalism of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company’s ( EEDC ) cables and installations within the South-east.

    The EEDC’s Head of Communications, Mr Emeka Ezeh, in a statement on Friday said the vandalism took place within the company’s areas of coverage in Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu States.

    Eze also said the police had successfully prosecuted and secured the conviction of two persons, who vandalized its property.

    He said that the vandals were apprehended “red-handed’’ through the instrumentality of various vigilante groups and police in communities within the zone.

    “Onyedika Nwosu, Chizoba Ezedialu and Chinonso Ezenwaume were arrested by the Achina Community Vigilante in Anambra State for vandalising EEDC’s Sub-station, located at Oye Mraket in Achina, while Chidiebere Ezenwa and Obinna Ubah were arrested for receiving stolen properties of EEDC.

    “The duo of Stanley Nwaemeka and Abumchukwu Nwele were arrested by the Umuogharu Community vigilante group in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State for vandalising Okposi Umuogharu three Sub-stations and also carted away some armoured cables belonging to EEDC.

    “At Umuchu community in Aguata Local Government Area, Anambra State, one Maduka Udechukwu of Umumillo village, was arrested for vandalising aluminium bare conductors belonging to EEDC in Umumillo village.

    “In a related development, one Damian Onu along with two members of his gang identified as Chinwendu Ebie and Kenechukwu Okoye were arrested for vandalising Ihie Ishiagu Community 500KVA Sub-station.

    “While Ikechukwu Nwankpa was arrested by vigilante group for vandalising Water Works 160KVA Sub-station, located at Tipper junction, Awkunanaw community in Enugu South Local Government Area in Enugu State,’’ he said.

    The spokesman said the arrested vandals had been handed over to police for interrogation, investigation and possible prosecution.

    According to him, the current arrest is expected to reduce the increasing rate of vandalism in the areas.

    Meanwhile, Ezeh said that the company had secured two convictions against persons, who vandalized its property within the past two weeks at a Federal High Court and a Magistrates’ Court in the zone.

    “At the Federal High Court, Abakaliki; one Okechukwu Anoke, was sentenced to three years imprisonment by Justice Akintayo Aluko after he pleaded guilty for vandalising aluminium conductor cables of EEDC at Onicha Isu in Ebonyi State.

    “In the same vein, one Matthew Moses, was sentenced to one year imprisonment by Mrs U.M. Ozoeze, Chief Magistrate Grade II, at Court 9, Enugu-North Magisterial District, Enugu State for receiving stolen property belonging to EEDC,’’ he said.

    “We commend the efforts of the various vigilante groups, Army, police and civil defense for their unalloyed support in ensuring that these elements are apprehended and brought to book,’’ Ezeh said.

    NAN