KADUNA ELECTRIC FRONTLINE APRIL EDITION

The Digital Collection Channels Are Our Saying Grace In The Face Of Covid-19 Pandemic

 

Hafsat Sambo Head of Collections Channels

CCD: Let begin by sharing your thoughts on the business performance of the Company now especially as regard to this trying period of Covid 19 pandemic?

Hafsat: A very scary thought!!

The COVID-19 pandemic is definitely going to have a very negative impact on the business performance of the Company. Kaduna Electric has a lower tariff for residential customers, which is way below the average cost of supply, as compared to that of commercial and industrial consumers.

The lockdown announced the various state authorities to contain the spread of COVID-19 has led to shut down of all but essential commercial activities across our major franchise area. Consequently, the electricity demand from industrial and commercial customers has reduced significantly, while the residential demand has increased. 

Now with the above-mentioned fact in mind, the key issue likely to arise is that, already most postpaid customers deliberately refuse to understand is that, the bills they are given, is their consumption for the previous month and not the current month. And conveniently with the announcement of the suggestion on two months free electricity by the National Assembly, even some of our MD customers (businesses and profit making organizations) are refusing to accept the bills as they are laying claims of the free supply that was even only a suggestion,  Imagine how our residential customers will react to that statement.

KE operates in a DISCO, where most residential customers have to be engaged monthly to get them to pay their bills, with this lockdown where as a company that deals with essential services we are limited to working from home  for all staff with the exception of technical, maintenance teams and selected sales points, no bill distribution is likely to happen talk less of engagement. 

Imagine the effect this will have on our collections and business as a whole.

   

CCD: Let's look at the performance of our third-party digital collection agents- buypower and irecharge- how well are they fairing and what are the challenges, if any?

Hafsat: Well, the main challenge has always been customer awareness which management has been doing a lot of work on that but, if there is any positive outcome in this COVID 19 lockdown, then it is the fact that we have had a remarkable increase in our online payment platforms, because the collection figures via online channels has doubled the usual monthly amount in the last 17days when the lockdown started.

Secondly, mobile network is also another major challenge which prevents the SRs from completing transactions at sales point in customer premises. This is an issue we have very little control over. 

CCD: A substantial percentage of our customers do not respond to payment of their bills which also contributes to our losses, what do you think is the cause of this poor customers response and what is your suggestion on how to reverse the trend?

Hafsat: In my opinion, the reason for this border around ignorance and indiscipline in discharging civic responsibility especially payment of utility bills. 

This is a question I have been asking customers over time and the responses I have been getting as to why customers do not pay their bills ranges from overbilling, not getting bills at the right time to lack of prepaid meters. Initially, I was convinced that the reasons being given were genuine and issues needed to be looked into, behold management came up with a strategy to meter customers free to solve the overbilling issue. I remember, 2 weeks from the start of installation, the customers started bypassing and rejecting these meters, ask why and you will be told that the units were finishing too fast due to wrong calibration, done purposely to cheat them. Secondly the enumeration exercise, the customers with huge outstanding due to nonpayment started hiding their bills and claiming they were new customers for capturing I could go on and on.

It was at this point I realized that an average KE customer want to consume supply for free, they do not understand what privatization means and do not even want to know.

The main solution to this problem is investment ranging from technical to metering and the monitoring and enumeration.

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CCD: As the Head of Collections Channels, what are the most challenging aspects of your assignment?

Hafsat: Before COVID 19, It was the new cashless policy introduced by CBN even though it has its advantages, the tariff classes chosen by NERC is really bothersome, eg telling customers on D1 tariff class mostly corn millers and welders that they can no longer make cash payments in our cash office, that they will have to go to  the bank or do online transfers. This category of customers are even customers that are not likely to pay their bills until they see our disconnection teams around the corner. So convincing them to go cashless can be tasking.

CCD: Is there any help or intervention you need from the higher Management?

Hafsat: Yes, our IT team in collaboration with Fidelity Bank are on it, we are getting card enabled devices for our cash offices, this will go along way in easing that tension.

CCD: Lastly, how do we make it to the dream N3.5b monthly collection?

Hafsat: Hhmmm, the one million dollar question as someone I know used to say.

This takes us to that question I'm always afraid of being asked "which came first, the egg or the chicken"

I.e we need good investment to be able to collect 3.5b but at the same time we need good collection figure to be able to invest and meet our goal.

CCD: In a few words, who is Hafsat Sambo and what brings out the best out of her?

Hafsat: Hafsat is a Kaduna Electric die hard and High collection figures bring out the best in me. Cheers!!!

KADUNA ELECTRIC NEWSLETTER APRIL EDITION

Kebbi South and North Area Offices Staged a "Stay Safe" Sensitization Campaign and Distribution of Safety Kits Across the Area Offices.

By Najib Muhammad Atuwo

The Management of Kaduna Electric, Kebbi South Area Office has engaged it staff in a campaign against Coronavirus Covid19 tagged "Stay Safe".

The Area Manager Engr. Umar Sani Argungu, disclosed that while handing over the protective and safety kits to the OD&D Mr. Ibrahim Aliyu in his office

He emphasized the need for all members of staff in the Area Office to observe and adhere to all necessary precautions in order to curb the menace of the existing pandemic of Coronavirus.

He reiterated the commitment of Kaduna Electric management to the safety and health of its employees.

Finally, he charged all staff to avoid any situation that may be detrimental to their health and pray for divine intervention to this catastrophic pandemic.

In another development his counterpart the Area Manager Kebbi North Malam Abdul-Wahab Suleiman also joined the campaign of "Stay Safe" at the Area office where he distributed face mask, hand sanitizers hand gloves and also banners stating the alternative ways of online payment to the various service centers within the Area office.

While distributing the items to the service center Managers Malam Abdul-Wahab urged all members of staff to imbibe the habit of social distancing and regular hand washing.

He further stated that our dear esteemed customers can make use of our online payment channels as that will contribute a lot in minimizing the spread of the disease.

Covid19: Kaduna Electric Donates Relief Materials To Franchise States.

By Danjuma Abubakar
The Management of Kaduna Electric has donated food items worth over N30 million to the state governments in its franchise as part of efforts to provide palliatives to citizens due to the Covid19 pandemic. 

Delivering the items on behalf of the Management of the company to the Kaduna state government, the Head of Corporate Communication, Abdulazeez Abdullah, said as a responsible corporate citizen,  Kaduna Electric felt it necessary to support the state government's efforts to provide relief materials to the vulnerable and less privileged in society to cushion the effect of the measures taken to combat the spread of the pandemic. 

He said the company has delivered 500 bags of rice, 400 cartons of Noodles 100 bags of Semovita and 100 cartons of oil to support Kaduna state government's call on individuals and corporate bodies for assistance.

He said similar items shall also be delivered to the state governments of Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi this week as part of the country's Corporate Social Responsibility to communities where it operates.

The spokesman said the company fully supports all measures so far put in place by the state governments and believes of strictly adhered to, the Corona virus pandemic shall be eradicated. 

He advised residents to maintain all the health and hygiene protocols advised by health officials in order for everyone to stay protected from the virus. 

He said in addition to the food items, the company shall continue to provide uninterrupted power supply to residents to also cushion the effect of the stay at home order particularly in Kaduna. 

Receiving the items, the Permanent Secretary, General Services, Bashir Mohammed, thanked the company saying Kaduna Electric has proved it is a true friend of the state government.

MEET THE STAFF SERIES

All Staff Must Understand Their Job Description to Live up the Company's Expectations - Safyanu Sani

CCD: Tell us briefly about yourself?

SS: I am Sufiyanu Sani Haruna, I was born on 27th of March, 1983. I am a native of Bayawa town, in Augie Local Government of Kebbi State. I graduated from Usmanu Danfodiyo Sokoto with BA(Ed) Islamic Studies in the year 2008. I have eleven years teaching experience as a classroom teacher and three years lecturing at Adamu Augie College of Education Argungu.

CCD: When did you join the service of Kaduna Electric?

SS: I joined Kaduna Electric on 8th September, 2015 as HR Officer of the then Kebbi Regional Office. I am currently the acting HR Manager, Kebbi North Area Office.

CCD: What are your responsibilities as OD&D Officer?

SS: My responsibilities as OD&D Officer are to ensure effective implementation of all Human Resource policies and employee management within my area of jurisdiction.

However, the OD&D Officer is also responsible for ensuring full implementation of staff attendance management system, he or she is also to ensure adherence of proper discipline by all employees, ensuring proper implementation of disciplinary procedure and most importantly, forwarding of accurate inputs pertaining absenteeism and separations for timely processing of payroll.

CCD: One of your responsibility is managing staff, how challenging is that?

SS: The responsibility of managing staff is indeed, a very challenging task. It is multitasking, yet the horns cannot be too heavy for the head of a cow that must bear them.

Human being is an unpredictable animal to manage, one has to be on top of his task, must be brave, fair to all and as well as employing good human approach.

For an organization to achieve the set goals, certainly employee’s needs guidance, supervision, motivation, rewards and punishments, when all these are put in place together, the challenges will certainly reduce and make the job easier and goals achieved.

CCD: Any appeal or suggestion to the Staff and the Management?

SS: My appeal to the staff is to study the condition of service very well, know their job description as well as to know what is expected of them by the Company and vice-versa.

Conclusively, all members of staff should adhere to the Company’s core values which are (TIES) Teamwork, Integrity, Excellence and Sustainability.