KEDCO Identifies Illegal Connection, Meter Bypass as Major Constraints to Power Distribution

KEDCO Identifies Illegal Connection, Meter Bypass as Major Constraints to Power Distribution

POLITICS DIGEST – The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), Dr Jamil Isyaku Gwamna has decried illegal connection and meter bypass as the major constraints to power distribution in Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States.

He stated this on Wednesday in a statement signed by the company’s Head, Corporate Communications, Ibrahim Sani Shawai.

The MD noted that the analysis of events within the company’s franchise areas by the company’s field officers have seen these constraints as the major obstacles causing serious economic loss, not only to the company, but the country at large.

Gwamna said, “As a company we have the best of intentions for all our customers and the power sector development in the country. But the analysis from our field officers over time has revealed some frightening statistics that has given us a cause to worry.

“No business can survive under the atmosphere of any economic loss amounting to billions of Naira. It is a threat to the economic development of our country and we are not happy about this. If we make our customers happy and work assiduously for their happiness all the time, I see no reason for illegal connection just to evade payment or being metered and yet you are enjoying services in a manner that puts power distribution at risk of low income.

“We keep investing in network and making expansionary measures reality in the interest of the stakeholders but what we get in return in some areas is not encouraging to be frank,” he said.

On the issue of bill payment by customers, the Kano DisCo boss added that the act by some customers amounts to energy distribution crisis which according to him is capable of threatening the capacities to supply adequate electricity to customers, despite a rapidly growing culture of network expansion and the Federal Government’s reforms measures to address the challenges in the power sector.

“Also, we have issues with non payment of bills. Just to reiterate this; we are still metering our customers and we believe effective metering will help us address some of the challenges in this regard and to also continue to key into the Federal Government’s reform agenda for the power sector.

“Currently only few per cent of KEDCO’S customer population pays their bills regularly and also there is growing number of such population who engage in connecting energy without permission,” he maintained.

He stressed that the taskforce in charge of addressing issues of illegal connection and other threatening acts have been mandated to scan the areas for proper prosecution of anyone found wanting, while appealing to customers who have formed the habit of not paying for services enjoyed to do so in the interests of all stakeholders.