The Nation Newspaper

Tag: IKEDC

  • ‘Stable power supply is work in progress’

    ‘Stable power supply is work in progress’

    The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Ikeja Electric (IE) (formerly Ikeja Electricity Distribution (IKEDC), Engr. Abiodun Ajifowobaje, has said the country’s transition to uninterrupted power supply is work in progress.

    He expressed confidence that the advent of privatisation in the power sector will deliver the expected dividend. Ajifowobaje who spoke with The Nation, however cautioned Nigerians that they should not be unmindful of the time it will take the country to reach the desired levels of gas availability, infrastructure, human capital and financial backing, which are all critical ingredients for a complete transformation of the sector.

    According to him, so far, the best thing that has happened to the power sector is its privatisation. This is because prior to privatisation, the industry was in need of fresh investments to boost capacity and supply. Privatisation, the IE boss explained, has given the sector a boost, especially with the introduction of private sector initiative, including private funding, which he noted, is completely changing its operational framework all over the country.

    He however said the persistent problem of vandalism of electrical equipment constitutes a major challenge to timely realisation of the goal.

    Vandalism, he further said, is like a virus which is destroying the power industry in Nigeria with colossal socio-economic implication.

    “It throws communities into darkness and hit the commercial and industrial activities of the affected areas. “We should work together to stop the activities of vandals and those that specialise in energy theft and destruction of power facilities and installations,” he said.

    He recalled that one year ago when IE took over the electricity distribution under the privatisation scheme, there were 42 transformer substations out of circuit due to vandalism. To curb or reduce this incident from further occurrence, he said that his firm had to engage in public enlightenment on the effect of vandalism. This has also been further boosted by way of partnering with security agencies in Lagos State in tackling the menace, as well as being in constant touch with the community leaders and propping them to assist in securing the equipment in their domains.

  • Ikeja DISCO to tackle payment problems

    The Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC)  is addressing problems which  customers are facing on its new payment channels, its Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Mr Abiodun Ajifowobaje, has said.

    In a statement, he said the company’s technical experts were working to ensure that the channels offer seamless payment services for its customers.

    He said the company regretS any inconvience the issue might have caused to its customers, stressing that the problem would soon be over.

    He said: “While wishing everybody a merry Christman and New Year ahead, the company will ensure that customers access good services. With the new payment channels, on-going infrastructure upgrade and investment in new technology, Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company will continue to work towards providing sustainable and equitable power supply to all its customers.”

  • ‘Vandalism, power theft remain daunting challenges’

    ‘Vandalism, power theft remain daunting challenges’

    One year ago, the private sector took over electricity distribution and generation in the country. Things appear not to have changed as power supply remains epileptic while the consumer is inundated with ‘crazy bills’.  The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ikeja Electric (IE) (former Ikeja Electricity Distribution (IKEDC), Abiodun Ajifowobaje, an engineer, says all the inherited problems in the industry are being addressed. He laments that consumers by-pass meters, thereby causing losses to the firm. He speaks with MUYIWA LUCAS and DADA ALADELOKUN on the journey so far, the attendant challenges and how the company has been able to handle consumers’ demands. 

    It is one year since the handover of electricity distribution to the private sector. How has the Ikeja DISCO fared under your leadership?

    Indeed, it has been a very challenging journey. And I will say it has also been interesting, but we are forward-looking. The challenge to make a change in the power sector and by extension, empowering Nigerians, has been the driving force behind the company’s operation in the period under review. When the baton was handed to us on November 1, last year, we immediately hit the ground running and I am happy to say that with the support of our customers and stakeholders, we have established a foundation for enhanced service delivery driven by our contact centre, ongoing infrastructure upgrade, robust customer engagement and deployment of new technologies. The high-point of this first year and one, which I am very passionate about, is our change of identity from IKEDC to IE, which stands for Ikeja Electric. For us, this is not just a change in logo or identity; it is a whole new paradigm shift that promises innovativeness and service delivery at its best.

    What does this change from IKEDC to Ikeja Electric mean to the customer?

    The new logo symbolises renewed dynamism, professionalism and innovation. And we have earmarked several engagement activities to ensure that customers are carried along with the identity change which will be reflected across all our touch points with them. Now, more than ever, Ikeja Electric remains committed to upgrading service excellence within our network. Our new look is a symbol of a new spirit, new energy and a new drive, which promises a brighter future for our customers.

    In fact, Ikeja Electric will soon be known and embraced as a symbol of service excellence and reference point for innovativeness in the sector. I must also add that the change in logo implies new digits and email address for its contact centre operations, which have been widely commended for bridging the gap between the company and its customers.

    Can it be said that the government’s decision of transferring Distribution Companies to the private sector was justified?

    The best thing that could happen to the power sector in this country is the privatisation. Nigerians should give kudos to the Federal Government for the laudable initiative. Prior to the privatisation, the industry was in need of fresh investments to boost capacity and supply. Privatisation has given the sector a boost with the introduction of private sector initiative, which is completely changing its operational framework all over the country.

    In terms of power supply, many believe that there is no difference between the pre-privatisation and post-privatisation periods because electricity supply seems not to have improved. How do you react to this?

    Transition to uninterrupted power supply is work in progress in Nigeria and I am certain that the advent of privatisation will deliver that project in our nation. However, Nigerians must realise that it will take time to reach the desired levels of gas availability, infrastructure, human capital and financial backing needed for complete transformation.

    We all need to work together to make this happen. Every Nigerian must have a stake in the transition; we should work together to stop the activities of vandals and those that specialise in energy theft and destruction of power facilities and installations.

    Inadequate power allocation from the national grid is a challenge to power distribution. What are the options for DISCOs in this regard and how are you handling the situation?

    We have to ration supply to our customers. We resorted to what we technically call load-shedding. Our daily maximum power demand is about 1,250Mw, while what we have got between the day we took over and now on the average is about 300 and 400Mw. What we have to put in place is a sustainable effective load management to ensure that there is equitable power allocation to all levels of our customers.

    We are also looking at alternative sources to complement allocation from the grid. This is what we call embedded generation to feed some customers within the locality outside the national grid system. Plans are ongoing to achieve this. We have received proposals from many companies, which have expressed their willingness to partner with us in generating power supply. We have invested over N1billion in network rehabilitation and expansion in the last one year. We are continuously investing in infrastructure upgrade, new technology and human capital development.  With regard to our installations, I am happy to tell you that the accident rates have dropped within the network following our robust strategy and investment in re-conductoring of weak lines.

    We have also concluded arrangements to carry out safety enlightenment campaigns within the network. Very soon, you’ll be seeing various safety signs along our network to draw public attention to dangerous electrical facilities. The government and the public have roles to play. Living, trading and working under high-tension lines should be avoided to reduce the risk of electrical accidents. We will always be ready and willing to spearhead initiatives aimed at ensuring safety within the sector as the vision of Ikeja Electric is to extend our services beyond the shores of Nigeria.

    The issuance of pre-paid meters still remains contentious as several customers are yet to be allocated same even when they have paid for them. What is your company doing to address this seeming anomaly?

    Metering is a key issue in distribution. We have realised that there is wide gap in customer metering. Over 70 per cent of our customers are either without meters or with obsolete ones. We are poised to fill this gap. For now, we have ordered meters and will start metering before the end of the year. We will be rolling out 500,000 meters in the next three years for effective billings on electricity consumption by customers. We are working on a robust metering model that will promote transparency in billing and eradicate energy theft. So far, about 136,000 customers with the company have been provided with prepaid meters to date.

    The ugly side of it is that some people have perfected the act of by-passing the meters. To date, about 36,000 customers have been discovered to have by-passed the meters, and this poses a serious challenge to the company. We are working with security operatives to enforce prosecution of offenders. We also urge our customers and indeed, the public to report people involved in this act as it affects the network, thereby resulting in throwing more homes into darkness, economic losses from surges and possible death through electrocution.

    “Crazy bill” or estimated billing is rampant in the absence of a pre-paid meters. To many, this is cheating since the bills are usually more than the electricity consumed. How do you address this problem and when is it likely to stop?

    Estimated billing is unavoidable for customers who do not have meters or those with bad meters. We use scientific methodology through energy delivered to the transformer feeding the customers. However, metering of customers will solve the problem associated with estimated billing. This is where we are headed in Ikeja Electric and I am confident that we will achieve this.

    Many communities have accused your company of charging them for transformer installations. Are communities supposed to pay for installing transformer and accessories?

    Ikeja Electric does not charge for transformer installations. We have heard reported cases of communities contributing money to get transformer installed. This, I say emphatically, is not at the instance of the management of Ikeja Electric. We have discovered along the line that there is always connivance between some community leaders and some perceived staff of distribution companies in this regard. In Ikeja Electric, our policy stands; we don’t demand money from any customer to install transformers or other electrical equipment.

    Vandalism of power equipment remains a problem in this industry. How do you guard against this?

    Vandalism is like a virus, which is destroying the power industry in Nigeria. The socio-economic implication of vandalism is colossal. It throws communities into darkness and hit the commercial and industrial activities of the affected areas. By the time we took over, there were 42 transformer substations out of circuit due to vandalism.

    We spent huge sums of money to revive them so that the affected communities could have power supply. Such money spent to replace stolen/damaged equipment would have been better used to expand the network. What we have done is to enlighten the public through the media on the effect of vandalism. We are also partnering with security agencies in Lagos on curbing the menace. We have visited the State Security Services, the Lagos State Police Command and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). We are also in constant touch with the community leaders, propping them to assist in securing these equipment in their domains.

    The people’s perception of the power industry over the years has continually cast doubts on its integrity. How has this affected your business and can this be changed?

    The image problem of the power sector is basically, a result of inadequate power supply. The billing and metering issues are also there. For us in Ikeja Electric, I am sure the public will agree that we are currently moving away from the past in terms of service delivery. This is still work in progress and this is why we are taking on a new identity to help us move the conversation of effective service delivery further. Unlike in the past, customers can now contact us without leaving the comfort of their homes or offices through our call centre. Once a call or e-mail is put through, customers are sure of getting a feed back to their complaints via our call centre, which I have stated above.

    We also have a rebranded walk-in customer care with properly trained customer service executives, who courteously handle customers’ issues. Moreover, we are constantly empowering our field operations staff to serve customers with respect and courtesy. Our outlook has also changed with our rebranded new service vehicles and properly kitted technical workers while at work and they are always ready to help customers.

    Public opinion about staff attitude in the privatised power sector is not different from what it used to be under the defunct PHCN. For instance, there are allegations that DISCOs, through their staff, extort money from customers before rendering services. Why is this so?

    Ikeja Electric has always been against extortion in any form. This policy has been communicated to all staff and they are aware that any staff caught in the act will be summarily dismissed if found guilty.

    We have also communicated this to customers at various engagement sessions, encouraging them to always demand proper identification from our staff and report anyone who requests money to render duly approved services.

    The challenge we have been contending with is the fact that most customers, who allege extortion, back out when asked to prove it. But the company’s policy is that customers should not bribe our staff while the latter know that they must not demand bribe to do their job.

    We are very resolute when it comes to upholding our integrity and professionalism. We carry out periodic staff development programmes, which border mostly on attitudinal change and a paradigm shift that put the customer first. We have a policy of regular training and learning sessions for all categories of staff. We also hold quarterly town hall meetings where the Board and Management meet with all staff to create harmonious relationship and better understanding of the company’s policy and focus. I strongly believe there is a paradigm shift in staff work ethics and attitude.

    As a company in transition, how have you been relating with your customers?

    Well, in Ikeja Electric, our customers remain the focal point of our operations and we hold them in high esteem. We have made a lot of progress through our regular engagements with customers. In fact, Ikeja Electric comes first in this regard. Since the take-over, we have held series of meetings with Community Development Associations (CDAs) and Community Development Committees (CDCs) within our network for better working relationship with our customers.

    At these meetings, outstanding problems are solved, while issues raised are amicably resolved and customers are educated on the operations of the company. We have opened channels of communication where customers can reach us and get feedbacks. I just mentioned the call centre, which is very much at the heart of the company.

    The Ikeja Electric call centre is the first of its kind in the power industry to cater for the customers within the Business Units in English, Yoruba and Hausa languages via telephone calls and e-mails for quick response to complaints. We also contribute to developments in the communities through social responsibility initiatives.

    We have had free eye surgeries for customers, media check-ups, malaria treatments, high blood pressure checks as well as awareness missions to schools to educate pupils on how power works and how we can sustainably use power to the benefit of all.

    What are the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives your firm has undertaken?

    We have since established a framework for reaching out to the communities where we operate and already impacting lives positively through our initiatives. We have organised CSR programmes in various communities within our network. We carried out health programmes, which involved free hypertension and diabetic checks and treatment; free eye tests with free eye glasses and surgery, where necessary. We also carried out enlightenment programmes in Senior Secondary Schools on electricity valve chains, conservation of energy, illegal connection and vandalism. Educative gifts were freely given to the participating schools.

     

  • IKEDC eyes installation of 500,000 meters in three years

    •Invests over N1b in network reinforcement 

    The Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) will roll out about 500,000 prepaid meters to customers who do not have meters and are presently being billed through estimation, the Managing Director of IKEDC, Mr. Abiodun Ajifowobaje,  has said.

    Ajifowobajeat, who spoke at a customers’ forum held in the 15 business units of the utility firm, told customers that the 500,000 meters would be installed within the next three years. The installation is part of the company’s strategic steps to ensure accurate and effective billings of consumption by customers.

    He said two main challenges confronting the company, are effective metering of customers and the inadequate quantum of energy received from the national grid, noting that finding lasting solution to them paramount.

    Plans, he said, have been concluded on the metering project, adding that the official roll out and installation of the meters will start before December this year.

    Ajifowobaje said the company’s daily power need is about 1,250 megawatts (MW), but what it actually receives from the national grid is an average of 350MW to 450MW.

    He said: “I am, however, happy to report that IKEDC is involved in talks with several partners to explore supply from embedded power generation, Independent Power Projects and other sources to improve supply. We are equally working on a robust metering model that will promote transparency in billing and eradicate energy theft, which poses serious challenge to us but before December this year, we will come out with policy on ways to improve power supply to customers.

    “We have carefully studied the challenges facing metering of customers and we have come out with comprehensive approach on how to effectively tackle these challenges. Even now that we have not officially rolled out the planned metering scheme, the company had been able to install over 5,000 prepaid meters for customers at no cost since we took over the company on November last year.”

    Ajifowabaje said many customers within the company’s network have had prepaid meters installed in their premises, while we have also caught many customers bypassing meters. This development poses serious challenge to the company,” he added.

    He said customers with obsolete and malfunctioning meters would also have such meters replaced, adding that the company has made significant progress in its quest to ensure a robust metering system that would enhance accuracy in billing. The IKEDC boss said the management has come out with a robust plan that would address all challenges facing meter bypass by customers.

    He noted that additional security features will be built into the new prepaid meter planned to be installed and would be deployed to areas notorious for tampering with meters.

    On the planned 500,000 meters, he said: “Our first phase plan is to ensure that about 300,000 prepaid meters are rolled out by December while about 500,000 to 600,000 meters are being targeted for fresh installation and replacement of faulty ones in the said three years.

    Speaking on challenges facing the company on vandalism, Ajifowobaje stated that over N1 billion released by the board to drive quick wins had been spent to date on rehabilitation of vandalised transformers, replacement of undersized overhead conductors, completion of abandoned distribution projects and reduction in estimated billing issues.

    “IKEDC has also centralised its billing system to drive accuracy and introduced the Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) system, which drives remote access to meters for efficiency and effective monitoring. We have injected about N1 billion to improve electricity supply through the completion of the ongoing network expansion and rehabilitation projects. About 40 vandalised transformers have been repaired and installed to boost electricity supply, while about 115 abandoned transformer projects are almost completed in various sites.

     

  • Shortage of pre-paid metres hits distribution firms

    The distribution companies (DISCos) unbundled from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) have been hit by shortage of prepaid meters.

    The privatisation of the successor companies, including the generation companies (GENCos), was done, among others, to improve electricity supply since their coming about a year ago,  this expectation has not been met.

    Officials of Ikeja and Eko Electricity Distribution Companies (IKEDC and EKEDC) told The Nation that  both firms do not have prepaid meters. Besides, there is a backlog of customers who have paid and have been awaiting collection months.

    “I will confirm to you as a friend that we do not have prepaid meters at the moment. But you cannot tell customers that we have exhausted our stock.The Federal Government has stopped importation and sale of prepaid meters presently. Therefore, we only make efforts to see if we can deliver to customers that have already paid but for customers that are making fresh purchase, we cannot guarantee that now. The fact is that sale of prepaid meters has been suspended until further notice,” the sources said.

    With the scarcity of prepaid meters, the application of estimated billing for electricity consumers, might likely increase. The prepaid metering system was introduced to reduce or eliminate estimated billing system because customers complain of being given outrageous bills. The prepaid metering enables a customer to plan his or her consumption according to affordability.

    Customers, who spoke to The Nation at Somolu, Ikorodu, Island Business Units, among others, said they had been at the offices for several times, though they had paid for the metres, they were unable get them. Others said they had money on them but couldn’t pay as the power firms said there were no meters.

    The new investors have been complaining about poor revenue collection from customers, which is below their projections on takeover of the assets in November, last year. To improve revenue generation, the DISCos are exploring alternative sources of power supply, especially through embedded and captive power generation.

  • ‘Sahara Power employs 107 graduate engineers’

    The power sector has received remarkable boost in its human capital profile following the employment 107 young graduate engineers by Sahara Power Group, owners of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) and Egbin Generation Company.

    Speaking with The Nation at the induction ceremony held at National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) in Lagos, officials of the companies said the recruitment of the young engineers is in line with their commitment to youth empowerment and development of local capacity in the sector.

    They said  Sahara Power is a leading player in the sector and comprises KEPCO Energy Resource Limited, New Electricity Distribution Company and NG Power-HPS Limited. These subsidiaries have stakes in Egbin Power Plc, Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company and First Independent Power Limited (FIPL) respectively, they added.

    They said some of the young engineers who were sourced from the host communities where the subsidiary companies operate will commence a rigorous training programme that will equip them for their roles in IKEDC, Egbin and FIPL.

    The Managing Director/CEO Sahara Power, Mr. Kola Adesina, said for the recruited engineers that the exercise was in line with the robust human capital development policy of Sahara Power aimed at ensuring enhanced capacity and seamless employee succession through knowledge transfer.

  • IKEDC unveils online bill payment platform

    THE Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Systems Plc (NIBSS) have created an online platform to facilitate payment for post-paid customers in both energy and non-energy-related bills.

    NIBSS is central switch for interconnectivity & interoperability of payment schemes. The new regime would ensure that post-paid customer accounts are credited promptly.

    The  platform,  which  took off  last Friday,   according to  IKEDC’s Head,   Communication and  Strategy, Pekun Adeyanju, is available via the following: IKEDC website (http://webpay.ikedc.com/pay) who those using credit and debit cards; Internet Banking portals of financial institutions with  NIBSS e-BillsPay platform, and banks in Lagos State.

    The Chief Executive Officer, IKEDC, Mr. Abiodun Ajifowobaje, said the initiative represents another milestone for the company as it continues to enhance customer experience within its network.

    “This upgrade of our electronic bill payment process has been designed to deliver a more convenient, efficient and seamless experience for customers whilst paying their IKEDC bills. We urge all our esteemed customers to embrace the platform as we continue to work on ensuring enhanced power supply to our customers,” he said.

    He added that customers that encounter challenges should contact IKEDC contact centre on 0800-2255-45332 or 0700-2255-4532 or send an email to: customercare@ikedc.com.

    The IKEDC boss said customers can also visit the company’s website (www.ikedc.com) for more information on steps for payment online and in bank branches in Lagos.

  • Court jails man, son for attacking Ikeja disco worker

    •Equipment vandals remanded

    Two men, Suleiman Amusa and his son, Owolabi, have been jailed for attacking a member of staff of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) with a machete while on duty at Agbowa-Itokin Road, in the outskirts of Ikorodu, Lagos State.

    The company’s spokesman, Pekun Adeyanju, said the conviction came on the heels of increased surveillance by security agencies who have pledged to prosecute offenders as well as safeguard the lives and property of owner companies following rising cases of assault by restive youths and groups.

    In a judgment by Magistrate P. L. Hopeto at the Badagry Magistrate Court 2  under the charge number IKD/C/24C/2010, both defendants were convicted and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour.

    In another development, Adeyanju said three men were almost electrocuted in Ilasamaja, Lagos State while attempting to steal an erected electricity pole on Limca Road, Isolo. The leader of the suspects has been remanded at the Kirikiri Prisons awaiting trial process while the two others who were affected by electrocution are being treated in an undisclosed hospital.

    He said IKEDC had been receiving support of the law enforcement agencies in the state to protect its workers aginst assault.

    Consequently, a model for increased surveillance and rapid response support is being adopted to ensure protection of the investments and safety of workers in IKEDC and other power companies across the country.

    In one of its stakeholders’ engagement meetings with security agencies, IKEDC officials were assured of the support of the Lagos State Police Command.The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr. Umar A. Manko, pledged to assist the company by working out strategies to combat vandalism. He urged Nigerians to adopt an ownership approach to critical infrastructure by reporting cases of vandalism to security agencies.

    During a visit to the IKEDC Corporate Headquarters, the Director of State Security Service, Lagos State Command Mr. Ben Achu pledged to assist the company in combating vandalism.

    “Power is at the heart of all development and we are on course in achieving this in Nigeria. We will work with IKEDC in the area of monitoring and soliciting the support of community leaders in protecting electricity equipment in their domains,” he said.

    Also, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) also pledged its support to IKEDC during a visit to the company. The NSCDC team led by the Commandant Critical Infrastructure Protection and Mr. J. I. Iyogho, assured that it would mobilise its personnel for monitoring and surveillance of IKEDC network and installations.

    IKEDC’s Managing Director, Abiodun Ajifowobaje, praised security agencies in Lagos, adding that the company will continue its ongoing community relations and engagement to carry along the customers.

  • Ikeja Disco shuts substation over attacks

    Ikeja Disco shuts substation over attacks

    The Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) has shut its injection substation in Mafoluku, a Lagos suburb, over frequent attacks on its workers and equipment.

    Its Assistant General Manager (AGM), Public Affairs, Mr. Pekun Adeyanju, said despite inadequate supply from the grid, the firm still ensures that its customers get electricity. But some people who do not appreciate the firm’s services assault workers on duty and damage its facilities, Adeyanju added.

    He said: “The management of IKEDC hereby notes with dismay that while it continues to enjoy the support of most customers in its quest for improved power supply, in spite of considerable shortfall in the power allocation from the grid, certain groups in some communities have persisted in carrying out assaults on IKEDC staff and malicious damage to company’s equipment and installations.

    “Consequently, the management has taken a painful but inevitable decision to temporarily shut the Mafoluku Injection Substation to protect the lives of staff and safeguard the ultra-modern equipment in the station from vandalism by some residents of Mafoluku, who besieged the station under the guise of protest.

    “IKEDC in a bid to forge robust partnerships and address specific needs has held series of meetings with the communities within its network. The company has also introduced an interactive contact centre that is equipped to handle customer queries through its e-mail portal: customercare@ikedc.com and dedicated telephone lines: 0700-2255-45332 and 0800-2255-45332 (with options to speak to the call executives in English, Pidgin, Ibo and Hausa).

    ‘’It is on record that the company had severally engaged various representatives of the Mafoluku Community on improved service delivery.”

    He explained that IKEDC  Mafoluku Community Residents Association met on January 25; it held a meeting with the Oshodi Youth Alliance on February 8; a Customer Forum on  March 22, in which the Community Development Associations (CDAs) of the area were in attendance, and influential Mafoluku leaders at a meeting between IKEDC and the Community Development Committee (CDC) on June 5, the two groups discussed issues of recurring inadequate power supply and estimated billings.

    In response to these issues, the company he said constructed two additional 11kv feeders from the Mafoluku Injection Substation to relieve overloaded ones and this improved power supply to the community, achieved maintenance of the 11kv overhead lines to remove undersized conductors and replaced bad high and low tension poles. Besides, management has embarked on continuous adjustments of proven cases of over-billing, he added.

    “It is important to mention that the issue of low power supply to the community is as a result of inadequate power from the grid. IKEDC gets an average of 35 per cent to 40 per cent of its maximum demand on daily basis from the grid.

    “We have remained resolute in our commitment to ensure equitable distribution of this low allocation to all our customers at all times, including the Mafoluku community. We strongly condemn the assaults on the company’s staff and malicious damage to its property. Such acts run contrary to the law and relevant security agencies have been called in to ensure prosecution of defaulters.

    “The management appeals for the understanding of well-meaning customers in the area, as the station will remain shut until the community can guarantee the safety of the lives of staff and the multi-million naira investments that have been made to drive improved power supply,” Adeyanju added.

  • We are tackling load-shedding, says IKEDC chief

    The Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) has said it is addressing the problem of load-shedding being experienced by customers in some areas under its network.

    Its Managing Director Director/Chief Executive Officer, Abiodun Ajifowobaje, disclosed this during a meeting with the Community Development Committees (CDC) within the distribution company in Lagos.

    The committee members represent the company’s entire customers, and some of them complained that there was heavy load-shedding in their areas and demanded that the problem be solved quickly. In response to their demands, Ajifowobaje said the company was doing its best to ensure that customers got service and value for their money.

    He said when the new owners of the company took over in November last year, 72 transformers were out of service completely because of thieves and vandals. These developments, he said, accounted for the load-shedding in some areas but assured that the problem would be addressed soon.

    The IKEDC chief also said on taking over the company last year, the new investors hired experts to carry out a study on the network. The study was centred on overall ways to improve supply and service delivery.

    The report of the study, according to Ajifowobaje, has been submitted and is awaiting the board’s approval. He said with the full implementation of the report, estimated billing would be a thing of the past, while supply would also improve significantly.

    He said IKEDC, a few months ago, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Egbin Power Generation Plc to get 1,200 megawatts (MW) directly to ensure stable power supply. He told the committees that IKEDC had 600,000 customers and only 200,000 customers were metered. Out of the metered customers, some use obsolete meters, he said,  adding that the company needs 1,250MW but only gets 300MW for the 600,000 customers.

    Ajifowobaje said the company has drawn a roadmap on metering, which is awaiting the board’s approval. He added that he expects it to be approved before the end of this month. The roadmap’s target is to get every customer metered.

    He appealed for customers’ continued support in safeguarding their meters and ensuring they are not tampered with, noting that the company is working hard to have good customer relations and doing everything possible towards that.

    He said the company was partnering the Federal Government to improve power supply and IKEDC was exploring alternative sources of power supply outside the grid through embedded and captive power generations.