EPILEPTIC ELECTRICITY SUPPLY FRUSTRATES RECOVERY OF OUTSTANDING PHCN BILLS

NEWLY re-engaged workers of the defunct PHCN Plc (Eko Distribution Zone) now Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) Lagos are facing a tough time meeting the mandate given to them by the management of the company to recover the outstanding electricity bills owed to PHCN by consumers in Lagos.
The outstanding bills estimated to be billions of naira, in the new management’s thinking, would go a long way to enhancing the fortunes of the company if recovered. In view of this, they charged the re-engaged workers from PHCN to recover the debts at all cost.
Some of the workers who spoke to The Guardian under the condition of anonymity disclosed that the management hinged the confirmation of their re-engagement, which is currently under six months probation on their impressive performance in the old debt recovering drive.

FRESH SQUABBLES THREATEN TAKEOVER OF POWER PLANTS

• As PHCN Workers Warn Of Showdown
• Demand N400 billion Pay-off, Urgent Promotion, Others
• Sale Of Power Plants To Generate $2.6 billon
THE October handover date for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria’s (PHCN) power plants, as proposed by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), may be in jeopardy following new and “urgent” demands by the workers.
The electricity employees, Saturday, threatened industrial unrest should the Federal Government fail to meet all of their demands in the July 8, 2013 letter addressed to the Ministry of Power.

ELECTRICITY CONSUMERS TO PAY N50,000 FOR PRE-PAID METRES

From April 25 electricity consumers may pay between N25,000 and N50,000 for pre-paid metres for the single phase and three phase models, respectively,  under the new Credited Advance Pay for Metering Implementation, CAPMI, scheme.

The price tag is aimed at fast tracking the deployment of pre-paid metres to customers across the country sequel to the failed free metre scheme initially proposed by the Federal Government.

CAPMI became necessary following complaints by consumers about poor electricity service delivery in the face of continued estimated billing by Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN.

PHCN ANNOUNCES 4-DAY POWER OUTAGE

LAGOS—MANAGEMENT of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, Eko Electricity Distribution Company, EDC, has announced a four-day power interruption in parts of Lagos for maintenance purposes.

The interruption, beginning Friday April 5 to Monday, April 8, will affect mostly Lekki Phase I, VGC, Maroko, Victoria Island, UPDC Estate, Chevron Estate, NICON Town Estate, Victoria Island and other adjoining areas.

PRESIDENCY OKAYS NEW PRE-PAID METER SCHEME

THE Presidential Action Committee on Power (PACP), chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan, has endorsed an alternative funding mechanism for pre-paid meters in the country and has directed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to commence immediate implementation.

The recomposed PACP, which was established in June 2010, provides leadership and guidance for the rapid development of Nigeria’s power sector and determines the general policy direction and strategic focus of reforms in the sector.

The new policy, known as Credit Advance Payment for Meter Installation (CAPMI), is expected to immediately facilitate the deployment of meters to electricity consumers and check ‘crazy bills’ following the failure of the ‘free meters’ scheme announced in June last year by the NERC.

PREPARE TO PAY MORE FOR ELECTRICITY - FG TELLS NIGERIANS •AS FG, PHCN SUCCESSOR INVESTORS SIGN HANDOVER AGREEMENTS

ACTING Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr Benjamin Ezra Dikki, has advised electricity consumers in Nigeria to be prepared for increased electricity tariff.

This is just as the Managing Director of CMEC, one of the preferred bidders in the privatisation exercise of unbundled Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) successor companies, Mrs Heather Onoh, said it would take the company six months to rehabilitate parts of the Sapele power plant.

FG DIRECTS PHCN TO IMPORT PREPAID METERS

The Federal Government has directed the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, (PHCN), to import commercial number of new pre-payment meters for distribution to consumers nationwide.

The importation of the meters is aimed at ending the exploitation of consumers through estimation of their bills as a result of lack of meters.

The importation which is also based on the nation’s inability to produce the facility locally is to be carried out through local and foreign vendors.

LAGOSIANS PAYING MORE FOR PHCN DARKNESS

The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) last year hiked electricity tariff as part of reforms in the power sector. The impact of the tariff increase has continued to put Lagosians on edge, especially when PHCN’s discredited estimated billing system is added. Blueprint captures Lagosians’ grouse over estimated bills

Since the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) announced a new electricity tariff in the country, residents of Lagos State have been finding it difficult to cope with the estimated billing system of Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

Investigations by Blueprint in Lagos metropolis showed that workers of PHCN often prefer using estimated bills to reading consumers’ meters.

PRESIDENCY REVIEWS ELECTRICITY ROADMAP

• 2013 tagged ‘make or break’ year for sector

• Privatisation to end in fourth quarter

FACED with the difficulties of meeting its 2012 target for the electricity sector, the Presidency has commenced the review of its “Power Sector Roadmap.”

As a mark of its determination to deliver on its promises in the electricity sector, the Presidency has described the year 2013 as “a make or break” year.

PHCN GETS MARCHING ORDERS ON ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

Electricity consumers are set for war against electricity distribution companies DISCOs, over lack of meters and high bills. UDEME AKPAN reports that the swift intervention of NERC may assist to achieve stability in the sector.

The Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi has, at different occasions, expressed his concern for consumers of electricity in the nation. This is based on at least a reason. Amadi believes that consumers should be kings, particularly because without them, operators would not be in business.

CUSTOMERS MUST NOW PAY FOR PHCN METRES – NERC

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has reversed itself on earlier policy cancelling payment for electricity meters by customers.

Following the commencement of the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) 2 in June 2012, the commission had announced that electricity consumers would no longer pay for pre-paid meters as the MYTO 2 was structured to allow for adequate funding of the sector, including the provision of meters to customers.

Meters, it said, were now the property of the distribution companies (Discos) who now have the responsibility to install them for customers as the cost had been factored in the MYTO 2 tariff.