Kaduna Electric Frontline May Edition

We Shall Focus on Delivering Value to Our Customers, The Company and Other Stakeholders - Regional Chief, Kaduna South

CCD: Good day Sir, you were recently elevated to the position of Regional
Chief assigned to head the operations department in Kaduna South, how do you see your role as the Regional Chief?

AA: Being a Reginal Chief of Kaduna South for me is a big challenge and it is also an opportunity for me to right some wrongs that I have always belied are happening in the system.

It is my belief that, within a very short period of time, positive change will be registered, as already evident in the past one month. The focus of the entire team shall be better revenue generation for the Company, more robust network that is delivering more qualitative supply, happier customers and a giant reduction in the ATC&C losses, that are the greatest enemies of Kaduna Electric. In nutshell, our mission is delivery more value to all stakeholders.

CCD: You are not new to Kaduna South axis just as you are not new to operations activities of the Company, what shall be your priority?

AA: My priority as the Chief for Kaduna South is to ensure that the staff are conforming with work ethics and they are happier. This, I believe will generate a chain-reaction, whereby they will also make the customers happier and the resultant effect will be better revenue for Kaduna Electric, better and guaranty network and supply and eventually a better supply.

CCD: Commercial and Collection losses have been a serious challenge to the Company; leveraging on your experiences, why has the problem remained an unsurmountable challenge, what do we need to do to address these teething problems?

AA: Firstly, NERC has given us the weapon to address some of the issues with commercial and collection losses, by allowing us the flexibility of re-boarding and surfboarding of feeders on periodic basis.

As a Company, KE should leverage on this flexibility and billing of customers who do not have meters should be done commensurate to the supply pattern.

There is also the use of MAP vendors that can effectively, within the shortest time possible, deliver and install meters to any customer that has been able to pay on time.

CCD: The National Mass Metering Programme and Meter Asset Providers Scheme have led to the deployment of reasonable number of meters into our network, how or what are the effects these programmes have on our business?

AA: MAP is a brilliant idea and that is gradually gaining ground within our franchise. Though the buy-in for MAP meters is still low, it is a good tool in reducing the metering gap of Kaduna Electric and so far in the last one-year, thousands of meters have been obtained from the progamme.

CCD: How can we further improve our performance in this regard?

AA: To improve Kaduna Electric performance leveraging on MAP will entail following processes of installation, by ensuring meters are duly sealed and monitored effectively for any infraction.

Also, areas where there is concentration of these meters should be given enough supply that will improve the token purchase and eventually improve revenue for the Company.

CCD: Let look at energy theft and meter tampering, how bad are the situations in your axis and what strategy do you have in place to checkmate it?

AA: At Kaduna South zone meter tampering and by-pass is really astronomical perhaps because there are lots of meters in the network and unfortunately the manpower to adequately checkmates these infractions is very low.

As a strategy, we at Kaduna South Zone are fashioning out ways to see how to reduce to the barest minimum, the effects of such bad habits by “Mass action” on particular clusters with a large number of enforcement teams (now referred to as Revenue Protection unit teams). This has helped tremendously. This month in only one Area Office, 94No. infractions were discovered and booked accordingly. The penalties and loss of revenue amounted to more than 15milliom Naira.

CCD: The importance of synergy and inter-departmental collaborations cannot be over emphasized; how can we ensure that all Departments and Units in the company supports each other and work towards a common goal?

AA: Synergy and inter-departmental collaboration are basic ingredients for success no doubt. It is for the betterment of Kaduna Electric to have synergies amongst the departments. There should be interface and collaborative meetings periodically. This will enable all Departments and Units have good understanding of where the Company is, where it needs to be and what need to be done by all. It will also provide a veritable platform for cross fertilization of ideas and self-criticism. I believe this will bring the best out of the entire workforce.

CCD: Assuming your given an opportunity to talk to the staff, what will be your message to them?

AA: My number one message to staff of Kaduna Electric is, we should all be dedicated and patriotic to the Company’s mission and vision. Together we can achieve. 

CCD: Who is Aminu Aminu and what brings out the best in him?

AA Aminu Aminu is a simple and ordinary man that believes in honesty and hard work. My greatest asset is patience and I am a man of faith.