By KUNLE KALEJAYE

To ensure stable power supply, the Eko Electricity Distribution Company, said it has expended about N2billion to resuscitate power equipment within its zone.

Several reinforcement, maintenance and installation of new equipment were carried out by the zone during the first quarter of 2012.

Addressing newsmen during the zone’s quarterly meeting in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Oladele Amoda, said the zone has replaced several obsolete 33kv and 11kv

Areas where obsolete power equipment was installed include Satelite Town, Amuwo, Ademola Victoria Island, Berkely, Orile, Coker, Lekki, Oke-Ira Kekere that cost an estimated sum of N500 million, Amoda said.

In replacing faulty power facilities, Amoda said that 33/11KV 15MVA transformers were installed at Keffi, Ademola, Anifowosha, Yaba NRC, Cappa/Nitel while additional transformers were also installed at Agungi, Lekki and a brand new 1x15MVA injection substation station was completed at Teuosho Yaba, which cost N300million.

He added that several 33KV and 11KV lines were constructed and additional 500KVA/300KVA Distribution Transformers were installed, which cost N750million.

According to him “In total, close to N2 billion have been committed to reinforce and maintain the network in the last six months.”

He admitted that the funding of the various project in the zone came from the Federal Government, which he describe as a practical demonstration of government’s commitment in improving the power sector for the benefit of its citizens.

Metering consumers

To fully enforce the new electricity tariff that took off on June 1, 2012, Amoda said that about 130,000 customers with faulty and obsolete meters are expected to be metered within the next 18 months, adding that in July the zone plan to install 8,000 meters to replace obsolete and faulty ones in the system.

He stressed that all meters would be supplied free of charge and new customers are guaranteed to be metered within three months under the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, approved connection fees while customers that have that have paid connection fees earlier before June 2012 with verifiable receipts of payment will be metered within seven days.

“The tariff review which commenced on the 1st of June 2012, is to enable the sector function effectively by being able to pay all its commitment such as gas and maintenance of equipment and networks. The MYTO 2 Order is designed to have a cost reflective tariff and also to attractive the much needed investment in reinforcement and expansion activities in Generation, Gas and Distribution in the sector.”

With several NIPP projects such as injection and lines construction that are ongoing in several locations within the Eko network costing several billions of Naira, most of which are at different level of completion, Amoda explained that improvement in power supply will manifest from the end of this month (July 2012) on incremental and sustainable basis.