17 January 2017, Lagos -Barely few weeks after the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) berated the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) for what the agency described as the worrisome safety records and high rate of accidents in the company’s network, which recorded 14 deaths and five injuries in 2016 alone, the regulatory agency and the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) have ranked the company high in their scorecards.
While NERC ranked the company second, out of the eleven distribution companies in the agency’s third quarter 2016 scorecard, NEMSA) has ranked EEDC first position in its November and December 2016 NEMSA Safety ranking, respectively.
According to NERC’s third quarter 2016 Disco Performance Report released at the just concluded monthly sectoral meeting of operators of the power sector, held in Lagos, the agency evaluated all the distribution companies using a wide range of critical parameters in the power distribution operation.
Reacting to this development, the acting Managing Director/CEO of EEDC, Srinivas Jayaraman attributed this achievement to the concerted effort of members of staff, as well as commitment and support of the Board of Directors and Executive Management in driving its operation.
He further advised staff not to rest on their oars, but to continuously strive to improve operational efficiency and quality of service rendered to customers.
Also responding to NEMSA’s ranking, which was announced at the monthly sectoral meeting of the operators, Jayaraman attributed this feat to the commitment and conscious effort made by the management of EEDC in adhering strictly to safety rules and regulations.
He also added that the aggressive Public Safety Awareness Camaign it embarked on via interactive radio shows across the South-East states, as well as Town Hall Meetings held in 18 Local Government Councils to educate and sensitise the general public on the need to be safety conscious, also contributed to the company’s performance.
While commending his staff for this achievement, Jayaraman encouraged them not to rest on their oars, but to work hard in sustaining the attained position.
He added, “We take safety seriously and continuously invest in qualified Safety personnel and equipment.”
EEDC attributed 95 per cent of accidents within its network to unsafe acts by third parties, and appealed to members of the public to desist from engaging in acts that would put their lives or that of their loved ones at risk.
Acting Chairman of NERC, Dr Anthony Akah had berated EEDC for what he described as the worrisome safety records and high rate of accidents in the company’s network, which recorded 14 deaths and five injuries in 2016 alone.
The NERC boss had also berated the company for alleged violation of its performance agreements – flagrant disregard of Commission’s directives on mass disconnection of communities as well as high incidences of high estimated billing resulting from inadequate electricity metering of its customers.
It also indicted EEDC for failure to submit inventory data for 2016 to the commission and slammed N13 million fine on the company.
“It is on record that within the period of January to September, 2016, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company recorded over 2,466 unresolved electricity complaints from electricity customers who were dissatisfied with services rendered,” Akah added.
- This Day
