By FESTUS OKOROMADU , ISAIAH BENJAMIN
LEADERSHIP - The federal government said it has taken advantage of the new Meter Asset Provider (MAP) regulations to give a grant of N37billion to a private sector operator to supply meters to interested Distribution Companies (DisCos).
Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, disclosed this at the 28th monthly meeting of power stakeholders in Kaduna, yesterday.
The minister also urged Power Distribution Companies (DisCos) to access the N37 billion fund as part of government’s measures towards addressing challenges associated with the estimated billing system.
The meeting, hosted by Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company at the Mando transmission substation, had in attendance representatives of government power agencies and private operators across the value chain of Generation, Transmission and Distribution.
The minister, who did not mention the name of the company, said the federal government provided the fund based on the demand for meters, given the increasing power generation, transmission and distribution in the country.
He said, “As power supply continues to increase in generation, transmission and distribution, the demand for meters will increase because more power supply and consumption will likely result in increased bills.’’
Meanwhile, the minister said the federal government is committed to resolving the challenges posed by estimated billings in the power sector within the shortest time.
He noted that estimated billings has become a major cause of distrust and conflict between consumers and distribution companies (DisCos), stressing that provision of meters are the easiest way to build the bridge of trust.
Fashola stated this yesterday while addressing industry stakeholders at the 28 monthly power sector operators meeting in Kaduna. He disclosed that every DisCo is affected by the issue stressing that every DisCo needs to respond by providing meters quickly and seeking to end estimated billing, which he explained are subjective, discretionary, and prone to abuse.
The minister stated that the bigger and compelling issue currently facing the electricity industry is that of estimated billing and lack of meters.
“Meter supply has become the big issue of the moment that consumers want us to resolve,” he said. As a Government, we hear them loudly and clearly, and as service providers, we hope that you can hear them too. As power supply continues to increase in Generation, Transmission and Distribution, the demand for meters will increase because more power supply and consumption will likely result in increased bills.
“Estimated billings in these circumstance will become a major cause of distrust and conflict between consumers and DisCos, and meters are the easiest way to build the bridge of trust.”
Speaking on efforts being made to address the issue, Fashola said, “On the Executive side of Government, we are responding by taking advantage of the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) Regulations to deploy a fund of N37bn towards supplying meters through private sector.
“I urge all DisCos who have not taken benefit of this opportunity to quickly do so, or make their own funding arrangements to contract their own meter providers to supply and install meters.
“On the Legislative side of Government, there is a clear intention to intervene by Legislation, he said.
The minister also emphasised government’s commitment to ensuring better service delivery. He said: “Our commitment to better service delivery by improving infrastructure, as mandated by President Buhari, continues.
“Yesterday, I visited the historic city of Zaria to commission the 60MVA Transformer added to the Zaria 132 KV substation to increase the transformer capacity from 140 MVA to 200 MVA.
“This will improve service to customers of Kaduna DisCo, our host, in places like Zaria City, Sabon Gari, Samaru, Giwa, Yakawada, Tudun Wada, Markafi, to mention a few.This morning, I also visited the Power House 132 KV Transmission Substation in Kaduna to commission 2 X 60 MVA Transformers to increase the transformer capacity from 190 MVA to 240 MVA.
“This will hopefully improve service of Kaduna DisCo to customers in places like Kaduna Township, Rigasa, Kakuri, Rigachukwu, Chikun, Sabon Tasha, to mention a few. I must commend TCN for these interventions that are being undertaken nationwide.’’
On his part, the managing director of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, Engr Garba Haruna said his company has improved its services to consumers.
“As you can see in Kaduna we have a minimum supply of 10 hours to 12 hours in some parts of Kaduna we have 24 hour of electricity supply but with this commissioning it will improve,” he said.
He expressed willingness to continue to support the meeting.
Earlier the Minister inaugurated three power substations with 60MVA Transformer that added to the Zaria 132 KV substation to increase the transformer capacity from 140 MVA to 200 MVA. “The effort will improve service to customers of Kaduna DisCo, our host, in places like Zaria City, Sabon Gari, Samaru, Giwa, Yakawada, Tudun Wada, Markafi, to mention a few.“
The Minister also inaugurated the Power House 132/33KV Transmission Substation in Kakuri, Kaduna city, where the 2 X 60 MVA Transformers that had been upgraded from 190 MVA to 240 MVA.
He equally commissioned the 150MVA, 330/132KV transformer at the Mando Station.
The upgraded sub-stations would improve service of Kaduna DisCo to customers in places like Kaduna Township, Rigasa, Kakuri, Rigachukwu, Chikun, Sabon Tasha, among other communities, he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment