Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) is yet to comply with an order issued by the Eko Forum of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on October 30 directing it to provide a relief transformer to a high tariff-paying neighbourhood in the Ajah area of Lagos State.
FIJ learnt that eight streets, including Kayode Oduba, Benson Osika and Jude Nwoye Streets, are connected to a single transformer that has worked beyond its rated capacity over time.
Sometime in April, the transformer malfunctioned leading to a supply of destructive electrical current to some homes. Patrick Emmanuel, a resident, was one of the customers whose home appliances were damaged by the high current in April.
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NERC Forum’s Order to EKEDC to Provide Relief TransformerDownload
A copy of the forum’s order.
“My washing machine and other expensive appliances were spoilt when the transformer supplied high current,” Emmanuel told FIJ.
In October, Emmanuel filed a complaint at the Eko Forum. The complaint was resolved on October 30, with the forum directing EKEDC to provide a relief transformer to the area no later than November 29.
“Upon a careful review of all presentations, documents and evidence submitted by both parties, the complainant and the respondent (as the case may be), the forum in line with the extant provisions of the NERC Regulations and Orders as [it] relates to the complaint under reference, made its findings and hereby rules as follows: EKEDC is to ensure a relief transformer is provided for the affected community latest by November 29, 2024,” the six-member forum ordered.
At the hearing session, EKEDC had seven representatives in attendance.
Before the forum intervened, Emmanuel had been engaging Rekhiat Momoh, the acting chief executive officer (CEO), and some other top management officers of the distribution company via email to express residents’ frustration with the inefficient transformer.
“On May 1, the transformer blew up in fire(sic) and we complained. A technical team came to remove it for repairs and returned it on May 30,” Emmanuel explained.
“They knew the transformer was operating on a reduced capacity and instead of giving us an additional one, they resorted to load-shedding. On my street, we get power supply on a two-days-on, one-day-off basis; that’s four days per week. Even on some days, what we get is a low current that cannot power anything.
“I don’t know how the rationing was manipulated, but we are being shortchanged on my street. Sometimes, I will be the one to notify them it’s our turn to have electricity before they come and switch it on for us. I then emailed Momoh and she responded well. She directed a business manager to treat my complaint.”
After the forum’s resolution, a planning and construction team from EKEDC visited the community on November 6, promising that the transformer would be provided soon.
Three months later, the transformer had not arrived.
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“When the team led by Ebuka came, I thought relief had finally come to us. However, nothing has been done at the site since they came. We are still in the same situation. Even though their representatives attended the resolution hearing, I still had to forward a copy of the order to their CEO and other officers for prompt action, but the situation remains unchanged,” Emmanuel told FIJ.
While it was yet to comply with the regulator’s order, EKEDC decided to migrate residents of the community to the Band A service category but they have been paying high fees for low-quality erratic power supply.
“Surprisingly, the company transferred us from Band B to Band A despite the load-shedding. On January 2, I bought tokens as a Band B user. By January 28 when I made another purchase, I realised they had migrated the area to Band A,” Emmanuel said.
Copies of the email correspondence between Emmanuel and the company showed that an EKEDC employee identified as Olabisi O. emailed him on February 11, saying, “Your complaint is being processed by our technical team. We are following up to ensure there is a visible change as you have requested.”
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On Friday, FIJ contacted Okpo Onyekwere, the general manager of technical operations at EKEDC, who had also been involved in the customer’s email communications with the company.
He obtained the complaint number EFO/5791/2024 stated on the forum’s order from FIJ, saying he needed it “to know where we currently are on the issue”.
However, it appears that EKEDC has a record of paying discounted attention to orders emanating from the forum.
On Wednesday, FIJ reported how the company had failed to honour an order issued by the same forum. The NERC forum had directed EKEDC to discontinue illegal deductions from every electricity purchase Kayode Jeffrey, a Lagos customer, made. EKEDC refused to comply.
The post EKEDC Yet to Give Lagos Neighbourhood New Transformer 4 Months After NERC Order appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.