LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has announced plans to metre approximately 600,000 customers within the next five years.
This plan includes an annual target of 120,000 metre installations from 2024 to 2028, signalling a strategic shift towards eliminating estimated billing practices.
Addressing stakeholders at the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission Customers Complaints Resolution meeting in the Lekki-Ajah area of Lagos State, Head of Metering at EKEDC, Gbadebo Akinyede outlined the company’s comprehensive five-year metering strategy aimed at enhancing service delivery and customer satisfaction.
Currently, EKEDC boasts over 450,000 metered customers, representing a commendable 63 percent of its customer base. Akinyede underscored the company’s unwavering commitment to bridging the metre deficit, estimated at approximately 260,000 customers, through targeted metre installations and infrastructure enhancements.
During the forum, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of EKDC, Dr. Tinuade Sanda represented by Joseph Esenwa, reiterated the company’s customer-centric approach and dedication to resolving complaints promptly.
READ ALSO: Only 5.71% Nigerians Are Register Electricity User- TCN
Sanda emphasised the significance of customer feedback in driving improvements and assured customers of EKEDC’s steadfast commitment to metering all customers within the stipulated time frame.
While acknowledging challenges related to revenue collection efficiency, Sanda urged customers to fulfil their financial obligations to sustain effective service delivery. She also highlighted the imperative of addressing liquidity challenges facing distribution companies and emphasised the importance of aggressive collections to meet operational obligations.
In her remarks, the Commissioner of Consumer Affairs at NERC, Hajia Aisha Mahmu underscored the pivotal role of customers’ complaints resolution forums in facilitating constructive dialogue between customers and distribution companies. Mahmud stressed the importance of customer awareness regarding their rights and urged distribution companies to uphold service delivery standards.
Discussing metering challenges, Mahmud highlighted government initiatives such as the Presidential Metering Initiative and the Meter Asset Provider scheme as crucial interventions to bridge the metre availability-demand gap.
Responding to customers’ grievances, Uket Obonga of the Nigerian Electricity Consumers Advocacy Network urged customers to assert their rights and hold distribution companies accountable for service quality. Obonga also cautioned against illegal activities like metre bypassing and encouraged prompt reporting of such incidents.
READ ALSO: FG Disburses 40bn Prepaid Meter To Army Barracks – Power Minister
Customers voiced concerns about EKEDC’s response time to complaints and called for improved service delivery, citing issues such as prolonged power outages and inadequate infrastructure maintenance.
EKEDC reiterated its commitment to ongoing investments in infrastructure upgrades and pledged to address customers’ concerns in a timely and efficient manner, underscoring its dedication to enhancing electricity distribution services across its operational areas.