Only DISCOs Are Authorized To Buy, Install Transformers – Minister
Babatunde Raji Fashola, Minister of Power, Works and Housing[/caption]
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has said that only Distribution Companies (DISCOs) are authorized to sale and install transformers and other power equipment, thereby warning the general public to desist from purchasing from other sources.
The minister who said this while he received the MD/CEO of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Mr. Ernest Mupwaya, in Abuja on Thursday noted that government is working on total elimination of fake and sub – standard transformers that come into the country without appropriate certification.
According to him the major challenges facing the sector are man-made, which he believes would be resolved in no distant time.
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Addressing the non-payment of electricity bills by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Fashola said the government was working to ascertain the authenticity of the claim before making the back-log of payments.
On energy conservation drive, the minister called on the DISCOs to focus their strengths on sensitizing consumers on the need to save energy by habitually putting off electrical gadgets and appliances, when not in use as well as improving on their customer relation and building customers’ confidence through quality service delivery strategy.
He explained that the Muhammadu Buhari led administration is committed to dealing with electricity vandals, by imposing stringent measures which may be punitive, as it will serve as a note of warning to other perpetrators.
Speaking earlier, the AEDC boss, Mr. Mupwaya said the company is “fully committed to making their customers happy through regular supply of electricity to their homes and business places in a safe and affordable manner”, adding that the company has installed Network capacity of about 870MW above 650MW peak power received across its franchise area.
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Explaining further, he noted that over 45 percent (359,969) of the total customers (876,520) have been metered, assuring that all commercial customers will be metered by December 2016, while residential customers will all be metered before the end of the first quarter of 2017.
