Abuja Disco threatens electricity thieves, procures additional 30,000 meters

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), has threatened to prosecute and jail those found culpable of electricity offences, indicating that it is working in collaboration with the law enforcement agencies to track offenders.

It said in as much as the company is making efforts to resolve issues associated with metering, and to ensure steady power supplies within its areas of control, it would not spare anyone contributing to its losses.

The AEDC Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Ernest Mupwaya, made the threats at the contract signing for the supply of additional 30,000 prepaid meters by the ZTE Nigeria Limited.

He disclosed that AEDC has engaged the services of the Ministry of Justice, Nigerian Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, who are now tracking electricity offenders.
ZTE Nigeria team led by its Managing Director, Fan Jian, is supplying 24,000 single phase, and 6,000 three phase meters at the cost of $3.7 million, and AEDC would further spend additional N214 million in procuring installation materials/accessories such as cables.

The distribution company (Disco), said it has so far procured a total of 120,000 meters with the latest contract signing with ZTE.

Mupwaya explained that at the time of privatisation, AEDC inherited 60 per cent operating losses, especially in the areas of technical, commercial, and collection, which has now been reduced to 40 per cent.

Apart from its advantages to the company, including improved revenues, cash flow, working capital, and reduction of losses, he said the intensified efforts on metering will also benefit customers with regard to enhancing transparency, confidence, energy saving, and matching affordability with usage, which ensures compliance in paying for power used.

He said with these, it means that AEDC will have more funds in its budget for expansion of services, procurement of electrical equipment, meters and plan for other things that will enhance its services.

He said that the meters and other installation materials were procured at very colossal costs, regretting that some customers will try to bypass the meters, thereby rendering the investments useless, and derailing efforts in accelerating transformation of the power sector.

Jian on his part expressed delight at the contract signing, saying that AEDC is giving them a great opportunity for the second time to supply it with meters.

He recalled that ZTE had been in Nigeria for the past 17 years, providing services to telecommunication companies, and some federal government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

He assured that the company would make good use of the opportunity and ensure that it gives efficient delivery service to the AEDC.