The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ikeja DISCO

  • 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.

  • Ikeja DISCO needs 1351Mw to meet customers’ demand

    WHY have the distribution companies (DISCOS) not made an impact six months after their coming? It is because of inadequate power supply, says Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) Mr Abiodun Ajifowobaje.

    Speaking when the Senate Committee on Privatisation visited the company yesterday, Arifowobaje said IKEDC is receiving 345 megawatt (MW) of power supply daily instead of 1351MW.

    “This shortage of 700MW places a huge strain on daily distribution,” he said, even as he decided the vandalism of the firm’s installations and facilities.

    In the last six months, Ajifowobaje said IKEDC embarked on rehabilitation of vandalised transformers, replacement of undersised 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 system which drives remote access to meters for efficiency and effective monitoring.

    Arifowobaje said: “I am however happy to report that IKEDC is involved in ongoing 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,” he added.

    The firm, he said, is working with its technical partners, Korea Electric Power Company (KEPCO), to ensure meter accuracy and loss reduction within its network.

    Ajifowobaje said KEPCO was spearheading an exhaustive review of IKEDC’s network to achieve the introduction of effective meters as well as promote reduction of energy losses through continuing upgrade and optimisation of the company’s installations and facilities.

    “IKEDC is working with KEPCO to provide a strategic solution to metering that takes cognisance of the needs of all customers within the network. I am happy to report that with the adoption of new technology we have made substantial progress in this regard and remain committed to ensuring that all our customers are adequately metered,” he said.

    The committee Chairman Senator Gbenga Obadara, said the panel was committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure a robust power sector.

    “Our oversight function has seen us embark on visits to the various PHCN successor companies in line with our resolve to facilitate an accelerated march towards transforming the nation’s economy through uninterrupted power supply. Those visits have thrown up several issues. But I remain confident that the nation will ultimately achieve its objectives in the power sector,” he said.

    In a chat with  The Nation , he said the company has upgraded its contact centre to entertain calls from customers in the major Nigerian languages as well as forums with customers and Community Development Associations (CDAs) is indicative of a healthy development that will enhance the desired growth of the sector.

    Ajifowobaje also said the company had since the handover adopted innovative approach to achieving quick wins in the face of the challenges of inadequate power supply, vandalism, energy theft and gas shortage.

    He said: “We are working in conjunction with our technical partners to come up with a robust metering system that will serve all classes of customers effectively. This system will enhance automation on the network, eradicate the complaints of estimated billing and check energy theft being perpetrated by people tinkering with the pre-paid meters. What we are assuring our esteemed customers that our metering strategy is an ongoing project and will ensure they are adequately and efficiently metered.

    “The distribution companies are at the end of the energy value chain and can only distribute the power generated and transmitted by Gencos and Transcos. The power situation has been grossly affected by the activities of vandals on NNPC pipelines and incessant vandalisation of our facilities and installation.”

    He also noted that the company has ageing workforce, which is a challenge but noted that the utility firm plans to recruit at least 300 young Nigerians especially engineers and technicians to take over the ageing workforce.

  • Consumers protest ‘crazy bills’ at Ikeja DISCO

    Consumers protest ‘crazy bills’ at Ikeja DISCO

    Electricity consumers from Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, last week, protested against crazy bills by Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC).

    The President, Amuwo Odofin Landlord Association, Chief Ade Owas, said the protesters came to complain over non-issuance of pre-paid metres, illegal disconnection and poor power supply, adding that it was inevitable in view of the harrowing experiences of consumers in the area.

    He said his people were made to pay between N12,000 and N18,000 every month when they do not run any manufacturing plants in their residential apartments.

    He said the firm issued an estimated bill of over N500,000 per month to a woman, adding that the consumer neither operate a factory or business centre.

    Addressing the protesters, the power firm’s General Manager, Customers Service, Mrs Olubukola Ojuronpe, said the firm would eradicate estimated billings soon and come up with payment option plan from tomorrow.

    She said: “The DISCOs are frowning at estimated billings and they have resolved to stop it. We are planning to eradicate ‘crazy’ billings in Ikeja jurisdiction. We would come out with payment option plans as part of efforts to address issues bordering on estimated billings. Thereafter, there would be metering of houses and the distribution of prepaid meters in May. Our technical partners have gone round to procure quality metres and they would be ready in May this year.’’

  • Ikeja Disco invests N600m in power supply

    •Ibadan firm restores metering scheme

    TO improve power supply, the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) has injected about N600million into its operation.

    Its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Abiodun Ajifowobaje, said at the firm’s customers’ forum in Lagos that this was a quick intervention to ensure short-term customer satisfaction.

    The management, he said, was continuing with its long term plan for sustainable electricity supply.

    He explained that the essence of the forum was to create mutual interaction between the firm and its customers, and to identify areas that would enable the company serve the customers better.

    He said the forum would be held regularly as a communication window and feedback mechanism.

    He said: “We conduct customers’ forum in all our business units so that we can use the opportunity to meet with them and tell them what we are doing and our plans for the future. We also want to create a two-way mutual interaction aimed at finding ways to improve service and serve our customers better.

    “Our board under the quick win-win intervention, approved about N600 million for us to do all projects including metering, inauguration of on-going transformer projects, replacement of vandalised transformers, re-metering and also do some overhead line clearance, which often cause network disability.”

    Ajifowobaje also said about 30 transformers had been installed to cushion electricity supply, and about 115 transformer installation projects were on-going and would be completed within the next one month.

    He said about 30 transformers parked up, while about 42 were vandalised before the new management took over last November, adding that all the bad transformers had been repaired.

    “The Board has approved installation of some transformers under what we call ‘win-win’ approach to address customers’ complaints and to replace all the bad transformers. Going forward, we will be repairing all bad transformers and reinstalling them, as well as completing all pending transformer installation projects in all sites within the network. With all these, we assure customers within our network of stable power supply when completed.

    “Our technical partners have commenced evaluation of meter system and very soon, we will come out with very robust metering system, but pending the completion of this arrangement, the company is installing meters for customers who have paid for meters.

    “About 6,000 customers have paid for prepaid meters and we have commenced metering them, while we also target about 7,000 customers to be metered by next month,” he said.

    He appealed to customers to alert the management of any suspicious movement from anybody, adding that protecting the equipment would help to ensure stable power supply.

    He said the management of IKEDC sought the assistance of the Nigerian Army, State Security Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Police and the state government in protecting its equipment.

    Meanwhile, the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has revitalised its Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) scheme to hasten the metering of customers’ houses.

    Its spokesman, Tokunbo Peters, explained that under the scheme, which was first introduced by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), customers who make advance payment for meters would be attended to within 45 days from the date of payment.

    The amount advanced by customers for the meter would be refunded with a nominal interest over a period of not more than three years through rebate in the monthly fixed charge component of their electricity bills, he said.

    He encouraged customers on estimated billing and prospective ones to visit their office and apply.

    “The revitalisation of CAPMI scheme is a demonstration of the company’s commitment to metering all its customers and ultimately eradicating estimated billing in its entire franchise area,” he said.

    Ibadan DISCO area is Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Kwara states, as well as parts of Ekiti, Kogi and Niger states.

  • Ikeja DISCO to invest N9.66b yearly on power infrastructure

    Ikeja DISCO to invest N9.66b yearly on power infrastructure

    The Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) would require an average yearly investment of $58.737 million (about N9.66billion) for five years to improve power supply.

    This requirement makes the firm to top the list of the 11 distribution firms’ investment.

    The distribution firms had a deal with the government through the regulator, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), to invest combined $1.8 billion in five years – last year and 2017 – as capital expenditure (CAPEX) to improve supply.

    Part of the investment will be used on repairs and replacement of obsolete facilities.

    A document made available to The Nation showed that Ikeja makes the highest investment, followed by Eko and Ibadan Electricity Distribution companies with yearly investment of $45.17 million and $43.865 million.

    Yola DISCO came last on the list with $13.133 million.

    Other DSICOs’capital expenditures are Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, $36.606 million; Kano DISCO, $30.379 million; Kaduna DISCO, $29.96 million; Enugu DSICO $27.23 million; Port Harcourt DISCO, $25.514 million; Benin DISCO $24.314 million; and Jos DISCO, $22.755 million.

    Investors in the distribution firms agreed with NERC as the investment continues; the regulator will implement cost-reflective tariff to enable them to recoup.

    A Director in the West Power and Gas Limited, the new owners of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), Dr Tunji Olowolafe, said the firm plans a princely N42 billion investment in the next five years to strengthen its network and reinforce electricity supply; this is far more than the amount it agreed with the government.

    The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Oladele Amoda, said the management was exploring other options of getting power other than that the one from the natioanal grid, following continual gas pipeline vandalism.

    “We are looking beyond normal supply through the national grid and discussing deals with private power generating firms,” he said adding that such private generation is called embedded generation.

    Owners of other DSICOs also have different plans. The Sahara Group, which owns the Ikeja DISCO, have taken inventory of what should be done to improve power supply in the short term and in the long term.

    Its Chairman, Mr. Kola Adeshina said until the processes were concluded, it would be difficult to determine how much investment the new owners would make to enable them to achieve their objectives.

  • SERAC sues Ikeja DISCO, NERC, others for N13.37m

    A CIVIL Society group, Social and Economic Rights Ation Centre (SERAC) has sued the Ikeja Distribution Company (DISCO) Plc and others for the alleged epileptic power supply of electricity to its office and environs in Omole Phase II at Isheri area of Lagos.

    SERAC, which is before an Ikeja High Court, is seeking an order, directing the company and the Nigerian Electricity Liability Management Limited(NEMLCO) to pay to it N10million as general damages and N3.371million as special damages.

    The group named the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, the Nigerian Electricity Liability Management Company (NEMLCO) and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) as defendants in the suit.

    NELMCO is the corporate body created by law in the course of the “unbundling” of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to manage certain assets and liabilities of the PHCN.

    Executive Director, SERAC, Mr. Felix Morka, claimed that the PHCN and its successor, the  Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, which took over “the sole generation and distribution of power” in Ikeja Distribution Zone of Lagos, wrongly billed it N3,877,190 between January 2012 and September 2013.

    According to him, going by its average daily use of 85.71KW and at the prevailing rate of N13.07 per KW, it ought to be billed N506, 119.35 within the period.

    The group argued that it has incurred additional expenses of N3,371,190 due directly to PHCN and its successor company’s breach”.

    In the statement of claims, SERAC claimed to have fulfiled its obligation to PHCN and that it is entitled to a steady supply of electricity by the first defedant (the Ikeja Distribution Company Plc).

    Instead of a steady supply, SERAC said it “incurred tremendous additional expense – buying, maintaining and fueling its generators”as a result of the epileptic power supply.

    He also argues that failure of PHCN and its successor firm to issue three days notice in the event of any planned interruption amounts to a breach of contract.

    The claimant stated that PHCN and its successor company is further required by the NERC regulations to notify its consumers including the claimant by giving three days notice in the event of any planned interruption of power supply.

    At trial, the claimant said it would rely on the Customer Service Standards of Performance, S. I. No. 40 of 2007, issued by NERC pursuant to its statutory mandate in the Electricity Power Sector Reform Act of 2007.

    It therefore, among other prayers, urges the court to make an order directing NERC “to promptly and without further delay establish standards for compensation to comsumers (such as itself), who do not enjoy regular power supply”.

    The matter has not been assigned to a judge as the defendants too have yet to file their defence in the suit.

     

     

  • Ikeja Disco begs for customers’ understanding, patience

    The Managing Director, Korea Electric Power Nigeria Limited, the technical partner to Sahara Group, owners of Egbin Power Station and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, Yeom Gyoo Chull, has asked customers to exercise patience over poor power supply. He said plans were underway to ensure sustainable supply.

    Chull said there were infrastructure challenges, noting that they are surmountable. He urged customers to give the investors some time work out things.

    He said: “Our relationship with Nigeria over the year has shown that the nation is filled with resilient and resourceful people who are driven by a spirit of entrepreneurship that ranks among the best in the world.

    “Yes, there are challenges bordering on infrastructure and human capital that will require time to overcome. We will need the patience and support of all Nigerians as we work towards overcoming these challenges with innovation, commitment and determination.

    “We see a future where Nigeria will become an exporter of power. This is possible with our collective resolve. Thereafter, Nigeria will once again be the industrial driver of the region and achieve its Vision 20: 2020 in no time.

    “Together, we can redefine the power sector in Nigeria and thereafter, drive socio-economic growth with a renewed passion for excellence. We are here as partners to work with you to build a future where uninterrupted power supply is obtainable in Nigeria and our great companies play leading roles in the sector across the globe. We believe in this project and we believe in you. So, let there be sustainable light; let there be collective progress.”

    The Managing Director of Egbin Power Station, Mike Uzoigwe, said transformation in attitude to work and new investments are taking place in the company.

    He said: “The difference between the old and new arrangement is that when it was under the government, bottlenecks involved in getting approval s to execute jobs, replace faulty equipment or carry major repairs, are no more there. Everybody sees everything therefore, anything that would slow down performance and work are addressed promptly. The undue long procedure of getting approvals doesn’t exist again.

    “Also attitude to work too is being worked upon having come from a government civil service set up. It was not businesslike but now it is different. We are motivating staff to deliver on their assignment. The Koreans are bringing the open office system where everybody from board to subordinate to assistants sits in the same place, drastically reducing private office system. A lot is changing. We are learning from the Koreans and they are also learning from us.

    “Also part of the privatisation package is that after six months, the new companies decide on whom to keep or not to keep. You cannot build any good structure on a wrong foundation. What we have succeeded in doing in this country is that we have laid good foundation by privatising the power sector. The problem in this sector is that people in government fail to understandthe weight of these problems as of factors.

    The main factor that is inimical to power supply in the country is poor capacity. To generate power involves capacity, to transmit that power involves capacity and to distribute it involves capacity. These are infrastructure problems. The 4500 MW, which is the highest we have reached as a country could not satisfy the 160 million people.

    “There is no way it can go round but successfully we have a good platform now, how to move away from where we used to be is the next thing everybody is battling to do,” he added.

  • Ikeja DISCO assures service delivery

    Ikeja DISCO assures service delivery

    The  management of Ikeja Electricity  Distribution Company  (IKEDC) is strategising to improve service delivery to customers.

    The management and members of staff held an inaugural town hall meetings across its various locations to establish a roadmap towards providing stable power supply to customers soon.

    The Assistant General Manager (Public Affairs), Pekun Adeyanju, said the town hall meetings designed to hold periodically, identified the need to seek public support and understanding through sustained consumer education campaigns that portray a realistic picture of the state of power distribution and the transition period needed by operators to attain enhanced power supply.

    He said that NEDC/KEPCO consortium emerged the new owners of the former Ikeja Distribution Company following the transfer of PHCN assets to them on November 1, 2013 by the Federal Government. The company has the Korean Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) as technical partners.

    He said KEPCO is the largest electricity utility company in Asia in terms of transmission and distribution, and has six generation subsidiaries with 67,000 megawatts (MW) capacity, as well as several subsidiary companies and global efficiency record of maximum downtime period of four minutes annually.

    The Manager, Transmission and Distribution Business, KEPCO, Mr. Alex Kim, advised the IKEDC staff to be ”drivers of change,” adding that the management and its technical partners remain committed to instituting a positive paradigm shift in the power sector through new technology, capacity building, and world-class customer service.

    “We believe that our members of staff are key assets for us in this journey towards driving economic growth and development in Nigeria through a robust power sector.

    He stressed the need for a renewed customer-centric approach to service delivery. “The nation is looking to the largest distribution company for leadership and I am confident that we have what it takes to change the face of power supply in Nigeria,” he added.

    Fielding questions from staff on job security, safety, training and reward, among others, Kim assured that the firm will stop at nothing to ensure that deserving staff are recognised, rewarded and motivated to operate optimally.

    “Our focus is not on rightsising or rationalisation, instead, we are looking to building an enduring enterprise with you all as partners, equipped with the right training, operating under safe environment in order to deliver to the cause of providing excellent service,” he said.

    ”We are looking at a future that promises efficient billing, seamless collection, and unmatched customer satisfaction. We must imbibe the culture of putting our customers first and treating our customers with respect,” he stated.