We spent N3.4bn to meter 120,000 customers – AEDC MD

The Managing Director of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Engr. Ernest Mupwaya, said the firm has recorded much progress since 2016, especially with its ongoing N3.4 billion metering project for 120,000 customers.

Mupwaya who has spent one year after taking over from the pioneer head, Mr. Neil Croucher, said the company had also reduced its Aggregate Technical, Collection and Commercial (ATC&C) since it took over the utility in 2013.

The Distribution Company (DisCo) head who spoke through a statement issued by the public relations head, Mr. Ahmed Shekarau, said in spite of the liquidity challenges in the power sector, Abuja DisCo had been ranked first in remittances of energy payments since December 2016 as confirmed by publications of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET).

Mupwaya who assumed office on August 1, 2016, was the Executive Director, Commercial Services, for three years in AEDC.

He said through a series of courtesy calls, that the firm was able to solidify its confidence-building efforts amongst stakeholders, which also rapidly improved its cash collection.

To improve collection and services, the DisCo boss flagged off the metering of over 3,000 Large Power Users (LPU) on November 9, 2016, which coincided with his 50th day in office, while the Small Power Users’ (SPU) metering project was launched on December 21, 2016.

While the LPU process was completed before the deadline of February 28, 2017, given by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), those for SPU are ongoing alongside the enumeration of customers to determine their energy consumption.

Recently, it signed contracts for the installation of 90,000 meters by Mojec Nigeria Limited and another 30,000 by ZTE Nigeria Limited, at N3.4bn.

It had also installed over 78,000 meters for customers through the NERCinstituted Credited Advanced Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) which was suspended in November 2016.