Sokoto- The Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC) said it will deploy over 500,000 pre-paid meters in Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kaduna states in the next five years.
The company’s Managing Director, Mr Garba Haruna, disclosed this in Sokoto on Sunday when he addressed newsmen.
He spoke shortly after inspecting the Sokoto State Government-owned Independent Power Project (IPP).
“This is to improve our efficiency in power supply and bolster the confidence of the customers as a new firm.
“Currently, only between 20 and 25 per cent of our customers in the four states were metered and this is telling on our revenue generation,” Haruna added.
He also said the zone which required an average daily supply of power of between 600 and 700 megawatts was now getting only between 100 and 250 megawatts.
“This gave rise to the rationing of power between the four states on a daily basis,’’ the company managing director said.
Haruna further stated that the firm was deploying new technologies to improve its cash collection and block areas of revenue leakages.
“We have a monthly projected cash collection of between N3 billion and N4 billion, while we are only realising a paltry N1 billion monthly.
“We are also co-operating with the security agencies to protect our facilities, as the nefarious activities of vandals were taking their toll on our operations,” he lamented.
Haruna commended the Sokoto State Government for initiating the project, saying it should not be seen as a waste.
Also speaking, the project’s Director-General, Mr Umar Bandi, said the project which had gulped over N3.8 billion was expected to generate about 38.5 megawatts upon completion.
“It has reached about 98 per cent completion stage and it is expected to be completed and energised in the next few weeks,” he said.
