Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHED, has announced plans to supply a minimum of 22hours of power to its premium customers beginning from June 1st, 2024.
This is as the DisCo said it has made bilateral arrangement where premium customers would get power supply directly from the electricity generation and away from the national grid.
Acting Managing Director of PHED, Ochuko Amah, who made the announcement during a townhall meeting with customers in Port Harcourt, said the bilateral arrangements was for customers who are willing to pay for premium steady power supply.
Amah explained that the company has decided to begin the premium service with customers within Trans-Amadi axis of Port Harcourt.
She said, “From 2013 till date, we’ve been hovering around 4,000 megawatts. Now what can bilateral do for you? We are going off the grid. We are not going to be hearing collapse of the grid anymore, it will be there but will not affect these ringed customers.
“We are looking at a situation whereby we can power Trans-Amadi because we believe this is the hub of industrialization in Port Harcourt, people here yearn for reliable power and are ready to pay for that reliable power,” she said.
The Acting PHED boss explained further that under the bilateral arrangement, premium customers will be paying what Band A customers in the country are paying, even as they will not be subjected to suffer whenever there is a collapse in the national grid.
Amah said the arrangement has gotten the nod of the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, as they were already looking forward to its implementation.
“NERC is actually looking forward to see that this is a success, so I promise you that it is not just about giving premium service, we are going to ensure that this not only enhance the lives of those living around this area but to also improve production of companies, we are going to ensure the minimum we’ll give is 22 hours not relying on the grid but dedicated supplies from our generators.
“This idea is beautiful because you are not going to pay anything extra from what Band A customers are paying but you are getting a premium service different from what the Band A customers all over the country will be getting; and even when supply fails on Band A feeders, you won’t have shortage of electricity supply,” she stated.
Making a presentation on Energy Efficiency, the Head, Special Projects and Business Development of PHED, Dr Edith Imaekhai, urged customers to switch to energy conserving and energy efficient appliances to minimize energy wastage.
Imaekhai also urged customers to utilize natural lights and ventilation sometimes to conserve energy and save cost, advising them to turn off sockets and other energy-utilizing devices when not in use.
