Power supply fluctuates as Abuja Disco targets 0% accident for 2017

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), has said it would target to achieve a zero per cent electrical accident occurrence in 2017, as against few cases of electrical accidents it recorded in 2016.

The Disco stated this at the commencement of its health and safety sensitisation programme recently, amid the increasing frequency of poor supplies to its customers in the federal capital territory (FCT).

“The previous statistics of electrical accidents necessitated that customers must be sensitised to completely eradicate such occurrences in its network,” said the Managing Director, Ernest Mupwaya.

“Despite the Disco’s award by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) as the safest network in November 2016, it however had a number of electrocutions, which attracted inquiries and fines from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).”

One of such electrocutions was in Lugbe area of Abuja where about three persons died, and a couple others injured from poor electrical connections.

However, the Disco’s Director of Risk and Compliance, Collins Chabuka, said at the event, which was held in Mpape area of Abuja, that AEDC would engage communities on the best safety practices in their use of electricity.

He noted that this became necessary following reports that 69 per cent of the electrical accidents it recorded in 2016 were on account of third party (customers) poor handling of electricity.

Chabuka urged customers to desist from patronising illegal and unauthorised electricians whom he described as ‘NEPA 2’ to get supplies from the Disco’s network.

He also advised house owners to often run earth lines on their building to absorb power in the event of a power surge in the network.

“This will help to reduce cases of electrical accidents and electrocutions in the network,” he said.

He also spoke on vandalism of the Disco’s assets, and begged its customers to help identify suspects.

On by-pass of meter and energy theft, he stated: “If AEDC finds out that this is what you have done, we will prosecute you immediately. It is either you pay a huge fine or go to jail after all court processes.”