AMID concerns over epileptic power supply in the country, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has disclosed that it has commenced moves to utilize embedded power generation to boost supply in its franchise areas comprising Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Embedded generation is electricity generation directly connected to and evacuated through a distribution system instead of the high voltage national grid.
It has the potential to create a fair, competitive and transparent market for all generators.
The plan was disclosed in a statement by Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, AEDC, Adeoye Fadeyibi at the weekend.
Apart from alternative sourcing of power from embedded generation, Fadeyibi said the company has also embarked on some ’40 Quick Win Projects’ that are geared towards rehabilitating the network and increase availability and customer satisfaction.
He said, “We also write to intimate you our dear customers of some quick-win intervention projects that we as Abuja Electricity have specifically recently undertaken with the sole objective of quickly improving supply of power to our franchise area.
“First amongst this is the fact that we are in various stages of discussions with some power developers capable of giving us, within a few months, a good level of embedded power generation to boost and complement whatever else we get from the National Grid, this is especially for the purposes of improving supply to Metropolitan FCT.
“Additionally, aside the low generation being experienced nationwide, we at AEDC have embarked upon some 40 Quick Win Projects that are geared towards rehabilitating our network and thereby increase availability and customer satisfaction.”
The AEDC boss said the quick-win intervention projects range from deloading the over loaded feeders, purchase of 81 new distribution transformers, repair of 78 existing distribution transformers and major maintenance on 34 power transformers.
He assured power consumers in its franchise areas of improved electricity supply when the intervention projects are completed.
“We assure you again that our sincere and much desired goal is to provide you with acceptable levels of power always. Our collective effort as a management team in the pursuit of this goal is not limited only to the above-mentioned interventions.
“We seek everyday new ways to achieve this objective very quickly and efficiently. And we commit to you that in a matter of weeks to a few months (staggered), depending on the duration of these different projects, the power supply situation overall will be significantly improved.
“We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to strive towards meeting your expectations in having world class power supply in the Abuja franchise area”, 6
Harrison Edeh is a journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, always determined to drive advocacy for good governance through holding public officials and businesses accountable.