MEET THE STAFF SERIES

More MD Meters of Lower Ratings are Needed for Lower Grades MD Customer - Sagir M. Ibrahim

CCD: Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

SMI: My Name is Sagir Mahmud Ibrahim, I am from Kano Sate.  I am a graduate of Kano State Polytechnic where I obtained a Higher Nation Diploma, HND in Electrical Electronics Engineering (electronics and telecommunication option).

CCD: What are your primary responsibilities?

SMI: I am currently the New Connections Officer in New Connections unit under Marketing and Revenue Assurance Department, Head Office. I handle the duties of capturing and setting up of New Customers MDs and NMDs, uploads of captured Data for billing either postpaid/prepaid, Determining of Customer tariffs and Load Assessments. This is to ensure that new customers coming on board are properly metered at point of connection for proper energy management and accountability in line with the company policies, regulations and guidelines.

 CCD: What do you consider as the most challenging part of new connection?

SMI: The challenges ranges from data inaccuracy captured and sent in by field agents, delay in metering of customers, the lack of proper ‘handshake’ and communication medium between key stakeholders and finally mobility hindering field inspections and supervision of field agents.

CCD: What strategy do you think can be used to address the challenges?

SMI: New connection is a key Unit in the Company’s match towards ensuring ATC&C loss reduction to it barest minimum by blocking all energy leakages and energy theft, thereby improving revenue generation. To this end there is need for:

· Adequate on the job training to Regional offices field agents, and the deployment of additional supporting staff to the currently existing TLNS who are daily finding it difficult to go around all locations scouting for consumers illegally connected to our supply, collate data’s and reports, treat new customers’ requests etc. This is needed for timely resolutions and result accuracy.

· More Meters should be made available most especially MD meters of lower ratings and the timely deployment and metering of new customers will aid in customers’ and company satisfaction

·  The need for a well-defined process flow and communication medium between all relevant stakeholders is key.

CCD: Any appeal or suggestion to management or staff?

SMI: I Appeal to management to engage in  more robust capacity building training to it staff. Also, my appeal to the staff is to be more dedicated, passionate and ethical in all official dealings.