Eko Electricity Distribution Company is set to install 138 transformers which would either replace those that are bad or use as relief transformers to reinforce the existing ones. These are all 500kv transformers.
Conducting journalists round the equipment at Ijora in Lagos, the managing director of the Company, Oladele Amoda said the equipment cost the company about N600 million and they would be distributed across the various business units within the network of the company.
He said the company plans to phase out all the faulty transformers within its network and replace them in the next two weeks so that its customers can enjoy Christmas without experiencing black out. “This is part of our customer care activities. Customers are the reasons we are in business and we must strive to satisfy them.”
Amoda said the transformers were purchased through the efforts of the members of the board of directors of the company who went to Zenith Bank to secure loan on behalf of the company for 100 transformers of 500 kv.
About 38 transformers, he said, had been acquired before the new 100 that just came in, thus making the number of transformers to be deployed to 138 transformers, adding that the company is always thinking of how to satisfy its customers.
“The purchase of the new transformers is to ensure that our customers enjoy the yuletide season with quality supply. We have embarked on massive replacement of faulty transformers within the network; we expect customers to reciprocate this gesture by paying their bills. We also expect communities who will benefit from the transformers not to see them as public property but as their own so that they can help us safeguard the transformers against vandalism by unscrupulous elements,” he said.
Over N1 billion according to him is being lost to various forms of energy theft and equipment vandalism in the last three years. He also stated that the issue of by-passing meter by customers who want to avoid payment was rampant within the network.
He warned customers who are in the habit of such acts or involved in any act of energy thefts to desist, adding that the company will not hesitate to prosecute and publish names of culprits in the dailies.
He said the company had invested over N13 billion on meters, affirming that the company has also commenced installation of over 200,000 free pre-paid meters to customers within its network.
He stated that the company has just signed a partnership agreement with a global brand, Huawei of China and Mojec International meter manufacturer, and this, we believe will impact our service.
The EKEDC boss urged customers who had paid for meter under the Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) scheme and yet to be metered to bring their documents for immediate meter installation.
CHUKA UROKO
