Federal Government allays fears of dismantling of DisCos

Firms lament import duty on meters
The Federal Government has doused tension on the purported revocation of licences of distribution companies (DisCos), stressing that there is need to make the sector work.

Minister of State for Power, Goddy Jeddy-Agba, who disclosed this yesterday during a courtesy visit to Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) in Abuja, said the Federal Government was more interested in making the utility companies work.

“I don’t think anybody is thinking of dismantling DisCos. We need to revamp and make them better and not dismantle.”

The minister’s may be re-affirming President Muhammadu Buhari’s position, who reportedly rejected the take-over of the 11 electricity distribution companies (Discos) over alleged poor performance.

Jeddy-Agba, who expressed satisfaction over investment at the Abuja DisCos, noted that the nation’s distribution companies would become world class if improved.

“I am to a large extent satisfied with what I have seen and heard. This DisCo is doing very well. I think with a little better, they can be world class. Metering is one area they need to improve and this DisCos is doing a lot on that already by metering about 75 per cent of their clients.

“Metering and fund collection go hand in hand. If there is no enough metering, bills won’t be paid appropriately. Other DisCos need to copy what is here. Others are doing well but they could do better,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Managing Director, AEDC, Ernest Mupwaya, who said the company had installed about 100,000 meters under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) policy of the Federal Government, noted that company had been constrained as thousands of meters are stalled at the port because of import duty.

He said that the debt owed by government agencies was affecting the sector, adding that there was need for the Federal Government to support the sector.