KADUNA ELECTRIC NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 1ST EDITION

PREPAID METERS WILL CURB MENACE OF ESTIMATED BILLINGS

- GOV. TAMBUWAL

In compliance with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) directive that all electricity consumers should be metered, the management of Kaduna Electric recently deployed 50,000 pre-paid meters in Sokoto State.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, which took place at the premises of the State Independent Power Project (IPP), the Governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said the new pre-paid meters would curb the menace of the usually controversial estimated billing system.

The governor noted that the new pre-paid meters would encourage more prudent use of power by the residents.

According to him, the pre-paid-meter billing system is efficient and reliable, and advised the distribution company to roll it out across the state.

On efforts by his administration to boost power supply in Sokoto, Tambuwal said 172 transformers have been purchased for installation to boost power supply in the state.

He added: "The state government's IPP will soon come on stream, in partnership with Kaduna Electric.''

Governor Tambuwal added that the state government was undertaking myriad of interventions to augment power supply to the state.

He disclosed that the state government was collaborating with the Nigeria Energy Support Programme to tap the abundant renewable energy sources in Sokoto state.

These, according to the Governor, include wind and solar energy, as well as hydro -power potentials at Goronyo Dam, among others.

Also, speaking, the Chairman of Kaduna Electric, Alhaji Yusuf Abubakar, hailed Governor Tambuwal for his uncommon commitment to the issue of power in the country.

The Governor commissioned over 1000 motorcycles for the company’s Sales Representatives and metering officials in the four states it covers.

In attendance at the ceremony were Sokoto Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, heads of agencies and other stakeholders in the power sector.

KADUNA ELECTRIC FETES CORP MEMBERS - Urges them to be worthy ambassadors of the company

 

NYSC Corp members shortly after Send Forth Lunch with management staff

National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) members deployed to Kaduna Electric were yesterday treated to a Send Forth Lunch to commemorate the end of their service year with the company.

In his welcome address, delivered by the Chief Marketing and Customer Services Officer Mal. Murtala Bello, the Managing Director of Kaduna Electric, hailed the corps members for their contribution to the company especially in the area of Customer Enumeration.

He added that the feat they achieved in 10 months is highly commendable and urged them to remain worthy ambassadors of Kaduna Electric.

Commenting on why the company decided to fete the Corp members, the Head of Human Resources, Hajia Khadijah Kabir said, “Today’s event is a testimony of management’s focus on its manpower at whatever level. The management appreciates their contribution so this is our little way of saying thank you to them.”

One of the Corps members, Rasheeda Dahiru, said she was pleasantly excited and surprised that Kaduna Electric deemed it fit to appreciate them. She said they are grateful for the gifts and experience acquired working for the company.

SOKOTO POLICE COMMISSIONER LAUDS KADUNA ELECTRIC FOR RELIABLE POWER

Kaduna Electric has received commendations from the Sokoto State Police Commissioner, Mohammed Abdulkadir, for steady and reliable power supply to all police formations under his Command.

The Commissioner gave this kudos while receiving a delegation from the company led by the Chief Engineering and Technical Services Officer, Engr. Bello Musa in Sokoto recently.

Abdulkadir who noted that the Police and Kaduna Electric are partners in progress expressed gratitude to the management of the company for giving the command priority in power distribution.

He reassured the delegation of his commitment in settling all outstanding bills adding that efforts are being made to offset some of the bills in the shortest possible time.

The Police Commissioner said in order maintain the good relationship between the two organizations, the Nigerian Police Headquarters Abuja will also be informed of the need to constantly pay electricity bills.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chief Engineering and Technical Services Officer, Bello Musa, lamented some of the challenges facing the company, which range from vandalism of company equipment and installations to energy theft and inadequate returns on investment as a result of nonpayment of electricity bills by consumers.

He therefore solicited the partnership and cooperation of the Nigerian Police, community leaders, other security agencies and stakeholders to curtail the menace.

Engr Bello appealed to the Commissioner of Police to use his good offices to ensure that all formations under his Command pay their bills as at when due so that the company can sustain supply of reliable energy.

BDRO CHARGES STAFF ON GOOD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP

BDRO Kebbi Area Office, Mr. Abubakar Ibrahim Hashim (4^th from left), Alh. Yushau Abdullahi (3^th from right), and other colleagues during a Premium Customers Visitation at Birnin Kebbi

To ensure that customers are well informed about the plans and actions of the company in their interest, the Business Development and Relationship Officer, Kebbi Area Office, Mr. Abubakar Ibrahim Hashim has charged staff to take Customer Relationship Management seriously.

He made this known after a supervisory visit to communities on quality service delivery and energy bypass, maintaining that staff must treat customers as kings as this would make cash collection easier.

He added that it is imperative to use the opportunity of interacting with customers to communicate the change in management and the need to meet their financial obligations, which will guarantee stable power supply.  

Mr. Hashim noted, “a cordial relationship is not built when it is time to distribute bills or collect cash, it is a continuous process”.

In one of the communities he visited, he urged the customers to report any unsatisfactory service by any member of our staff.

He also appealed to the customers to shun all forms of energy theft like energy bypass, adding, “should there be any need to purchase transformers there is an official way to go about it”.

The BDRO further enjoined all staff to take Customer Enumeration, Bill Distribution, Bill Analysis and Cash Collection seriously warning that underperforming staff will not be accommodated in the system.   

Mr. Hashim directed that all Metering staff should give maximum support to the Sales Representatives stressing that it by doing so that the revenue collection of the area will improve.

Similarly, Mr. Nafiu Kabiru who is the Corporate Communications Officer and a member of the supervisory team, called on the Sales representatives to cooperate with the Metering staff who are in charge of reading the meters to ensure that customers are billed correctly.  

 

The Supervisor for Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara Area Offices, Mr. Sani Argungu, who was also part of the Supervisory Team spoke on the need for staff to be contented. He said the issue of fraud is an indication of lack of contentment, which he said is the reason why people steal from the company.