Power Minister Rules Out Reversing DisCos Privatisation, Opts For Revamp For Efficiency

***Commends AEDC For World Class Facilities

The Minister of State for power, Goddy Jedy-Agba, has laid to rest fears of reversing the privatisation of power Distribution Companies (Discos) by the federal government, saying rather that the thinking is how to revamp them for more efficient service delivery.

He particularly singled out the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) for commendation, noting that the company is close to world class standard.

This is even as the AEDC Managing Director, Ernest Mupwaya disclosed that the company has capacity of installing 3000 meters per day but is being hampered because thousands of its meters are trapped in the port due to import duties.

AEDC newly acquired Smart High-Tension Detector

Jedy-Agba who spoke to Journalists while on facility tour of AEDC corporate headquarters and the newly acquired  Smart High-tension fault detector, urged other Discos to  emulate its standards.

According to the Minister, “This Disco especially, is doing very well and I think they can just do a little bit to be world class; they are very good; just little more effort to be world class and I don’t think anybody is thinking of dismantling Discos .

“But we’re thinking of revamping and adding to them to make them better, and not to dismantle them or anything like that.”

On what concerns he may have observed in course of his inspection,  he said: “I just talked about metering and they are doing a lot to handle that already, especially Abuja Disco. And they said they’ve done about 65% of their clients and if they do the rest, there will be no problem because metering and funds collection go hand in hand.

“If you don’t have enough appropriate metering, I won’t pay my bills appropriately. I will argue with you on bills. It either I under pay you or you over bill me. So, the man is a business man. If he makes his money, he gives me power and I need to pay for it in order for him to invest more. So, these things go hand in hand and must correlate

“Other Discos should copy what Abuja Discos have here. If others copy what they (AEDC) have here, we will have better improvement in services.

“Others are doing well but they can do better.AEDC is doing very well, they have facilities that I have seen and if others have that, we have better electricity supply services nationwide.”

On his part, the AEDC Chief Executive Officer, Ernest Mupwaya indicated that over 264,000 meters had been installed.

Further, he said: “We have the capability of installing up 3000  meters per day  but we have been constrained because thousands of meters are stranded at the ports because of import duty issue.

” But we are glad with the information we got that government is working out to resolve this issue so that meters will become available. When it becomes available, we will ramp up metering so that we can achieve the objective of transformation.”