62% Of KEDCO’s Customers Lack Meters – NERC Boss

A total of  251,197 out of 399,708 customers of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), representing 62 per cent of their entire customer base, receive high estimated bills without meters.

The acting chairman and chief executive, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr Anthony Akah, disclosed this yesterday at the commissioning of the Customer Complaints Forum Office in Katsina.

Akah said that the KEDCO is expected to inject an average of about 100,000 meters into its network annually over the next five years to address the deficit in metering.

“It is expected that the present metering gap would be closed within the next three years using KEDCO’s meter roll out plan,” he stated.

According to him, the NERC had instituted measures to accelerate metering through very close monitoring of distribution companies meter roll out plans. Akah described the opening of the complaints office as a “landmark event” as it signified the responsiveness of government to addressing the needs and challenges of residents in the state who are facing serious challenges of high estimated bills.

In his remarks, the chief customer officer, Kano DISCO, Abubakar Yusuf, called on electricity customers to ensure prompt payment of their bills that will enable the KEDCO to purchase more prepaid meters for distribution.

Earlier, the special adviser to the governor of Katsina State on Power and Energy, Bashir Adamu, lamented the high tariff and estimated bills facing customers in the KEDCO network despite its shortcomings. Adamu, however, advised aggrieved customers to forward their complaints to the distribution company and the forum for necessary action.

In a related development, the Plateau State Government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with William Duncan Hydro Electricity Limited to construct 32 megawatts hydroelectricity plant in Kwol, Bassa local government council of the state.

According to the state commissioner for water resources and energy, Mr   Jafaru Wuyep, the project when completed will boost and bring stability in electricity supply in the state and its environs.

He further disclosed that the hydroelectricity plant is the first indigenous power plant after NESCO which has been existing in the past 100 years in the state adding that when completed it has 150 years lifespan.

The Commissioner disclosed that the hydro power plant is also designed for multi-purpose uses stressing that it will stimulate Agriculture, like irrigation farming, aqua culture, promoting tourism and meeting the water need of the people of the state.

Wuyep further disclosed that the contractor has 30 months to complete and handover the project to Plateau state government noting that the MOU is not just to put pen on paper, the APC led government under the watch of Barr. Simon Lalong is determined to see the completion of the project in his first tenure.

In his remark the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer CEO William Duncan Hydro Electricity Limited Nde Joshua Mukan said this is the first independent power plant conceived in the state.

According to him, three Chinese company have indicated interest in the project adding that his company will do everything within it power to ensure the completion of the project within the time frame.