Fashola Warns DisCos To End Estimated Billings, Aviod Conflict With Consumers

Power House 132 KV Transmission Substation in Kaduna

***Task DisCosTo Explore Government’s N37 Billion Window For Meter Supplies

By CLEMENT NWOJI, Abuja

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has warned power Distribution Companies (DisCos) to quickly end the protracted era of estimated billing system as it constitutes major source of “distrust and conflict” between consumers and service providers.

He said already the Federal Government has made available the sum of N37 billion for supplying of meter through the private sector and urged DisCos to take advantage of the window to acquired meters for distribution to the consumers.

The Minister who spoke at the 28th power sector stakeholders meeting in Kaduna, also ruledout early repair of the recent collapsed bridge along Mokwa-Jebba highway, saying that work on it depends on the recommendation of the engineers assigned to examine the bridge and make recommendations.

The road constitutes major transit route for commuters between Abuja and Ilorin. The bridge however, collapsed after a heavy down pour and flooding on Saturday.

Fashola who stressed that every DisCo is involved in  estimated billing and needs to respond by providing meters quickly and seeking to end estimated billing, which is subjective, discretionary, and prone to abuse; further indicated that the National Assembly is working towards criminalizing the practice.

According to Fashola on the need for meter distribution to consumers, “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.

“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.”

Further, the Minister charged power sector operators to brace up to the challenges of the rainy season which entails more rainfall, thunderstorms, lightening and windstorms with consequent destruction of installations and equipment.

“All of these will affect regular supply one way or another. Trees will fall and disrupt lines, poles and lines may be damaged, and service will be disrupted.

“In all these situations, we must prepare our staff to anticipate, plan, and respond.

“Most importantly, we must inform the public about the problems and what we are doing to restore service whenever there are disruptions.”

Prior to the meeting, the Minister had gone 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, in places like Zaria City, Sabon Gari, Samaru, Giwa, Yakawada, Tudun Wada, Markafi, among others

Also at the Power House 132 KV Transmission Substation in Kaduna, he  commissioned 2 X 60 MVA Transformers to increase the transformer capacity from 190 MVA to 240 MVA to improve service of Kaduna DisCo to customers in places like Kaduna Township, Rigasa, Kakuri, Rigachukwu, Chikun, and Sabon Tasha.

Further, the Managing Director of Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Mr. Chiedu Ugbo, commissioned the NIPP 1 x 15 MVA 33/11KV injection substation at Angwan Dosa, Kaduna.