EKEDC tasks Nigerians on energy-conserving lifestyle

EKO Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has tasked Nigerians especially its customers, to cultivate the habit of switching off all electrical appliances whenever they are not in use to conserve energy. The appeal was made at a town hall meeting held in Festac Town yesterday.  The meeting which was convened by the executives of the company, to have a heart to heart talk with residents of the estate on how the five years metering goal will be reached, had in attendance stakeholders and representatives of Amuwo Odofin, excos of EKEDC Amuwo Odofin, including those from the headquarters, Marina and members of the press.
EKEDC’s Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Sam Nwaire, pleaded with the residents on behalf of the company, to manage the little energy available at their disposals. This he said would save electricity for use on days of scarcity.  Speaking further, he appealed to them, to pay their electricity bills regularly, and that the company was doing all it could to meter every house in the community.
He said that metering every house is a huge budget and that although the company has taken delivery of $15 million worth of smart meters however, needs about N52 billion more to cover every house under its jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, during a chat with Business Times, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Oladele Amoda, said that the company loses 25 percent megawatts monthly to power thieves and to customers who refuse to pay their bills.  According to him, the 25 percent culminates to a total loss of N1 billion monthly.
He stated that EKEDC gets a total of 11 percent of electricity generation monthly which it transmits to its 410,000 customers. “We are going to remove the analogue and prepaid meters to replace them with smart meters however, we appeal to our customers to be patient with us. We will cover every house before the five years target,” he said.