PHCN embarks on midnight operation to make debtors pay N109m bills

 

AS part of measures to make indebted electricity consumers in Ilorin metropolis pay their bills, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) has embarked on midnight disconnection of debtors’ lines in the area.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that staff of the PHCN in the Kwara State capital stormed Sabo Oke/Ilupeju community in the Ilorin East Local Government Area last Thursday to disconnect indebted customers at about 12 midnight over N109 million unpaid electricity bills.

It was gathered that PHCN staff used bamboo trees to disconnect their customers’ lines in eight of the nine transformers that served the area.

It was also gathered that PHCN staff resorted to midnight operation when a crowd of women, numbering 100, during the day, prevented staff of the electricity company from usual carting away of power distribution cables as usually the practice in the process of disconnecting their lines, just as the PHCN staff hurriedly left the area.

 

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868MW Geregu Power Plants For Commissioning Soon – Nebo

 

Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, has said that the Geregu 1 and 11 Independent Power Plants (IPPs) built by Siemens Nigeria, with a combined capacity of 868 megawatts (MW) will soon be commissioned. He disclosed this while speaking yesterday in Abuja at a power development forum jointly organised by the ministry of power and Siemens, Nigeria. While noting that Siemens has been a committed partner with significant contributions to the growth of the power sector, Nebo informed that “they built the 434MW Geregu I power plant and 434MW Geregu II plant which will be commissioned very soon. They are also the strategic force behind the 450 MW Azura –Edo power plant.”Nebo stated that the collaborative effort with Siemens was intended to stimulate project development efforts by the private sector that will impact positively on the development of power sector infrastructures.

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Nebo: N21.2bn Disbursed to TCN, Gencos, Discos

 

Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo

• PHCN workers to get severance pay this week

By Chineme Okafor

Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, Tuesday disclosed that about N21.2 billion had so far been disbursed to the three segments of Nigeria’s Electricity Supply Industry (NESI); generation, transmission and distribution under his watch.

According to him, the release of a $100 million loan from the African Development bank (AfDB) to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to fund critical transmission projects as well as N5.2 billion special intervention fund to successor distribution and generation companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) for operation and maintenance services, have been effected since he assumed office as in February.

While explaining some of the challenges he met upon his appointment as well as efforts of the government to overcome them, the minister stated at a power sector development forum organised in conjunction with German power firm, Siemens, in Abuja that the government had steadily got its power sector reforms back on track.

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Afam, Kaduna Power Plants: 20 Bidders Know Fate Today

 

The 20 bidders whose bids met the guidelines for acquisition of majority stakes in Afam Power Plc and Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company will know their fate today as the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) prepares to open their financial bids in Abuja. The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) chaired by Vice-president Namadi Sambo approved a short list of bidders recently. Afam Power Plc and Kaduna Distribution Company are two of the 18 successors companies carved out of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria Plc. The privatisation agency had last week dispatched letters to the shortlisted bidders to come for the bid opening ceremony to be held in Abuja today. Although a total of 48 firms had expressed interest in the acquisition of majority stakes in the Afam and Kaduna power plants, 28 failed to submit their financial and technical bids by the end of the deadline.

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FG to start PHCN workers’ severance payment this week, as disbursements to DISCOs, GENCOs hit N21.2b

WorldStage Newsonline-- The Federal Government has so far disbursed about N21.2 billion to the three major arms of the Nigeria’s Electricity Supply Industry (NESI); Generation Companies (DISCOs) Generation Companies (GENCOs) and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo who spoke at a power sector development forum organised in conjunction with German power firm, Siemens Tuesday at Abuja said, there was a release of a $100 million loan from the African Development bank (AfDB) to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to fund critical transmission projects.

Besides, he noted that since he assumed office in February this year, there has been the disbursement of N5.2 billion special intervention fund to successor distribution and generation companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) for operation and maintenance services have been effected.

Nebo said that government had brought the power sector reform to normalcy despite the challenges he met upon his appointment .

On the PHCN workers severance payment, he revealed that the receipt of pay off by the staff would commence this week.

 

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PHCN workers’ severance payment begins this week – FG …disburses N21.2bn to power firms

 

The Federal Government has said workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria will start receiving the pay cheques for their severance benefits from this week in preparation for the conclusion of the privatisation of the power sector.

The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said this at a power sector development forum organised by the Federal Ministry of Power in conjunction with a German power firm, Siemens, in Abuja on Tuesday.

“There has been a directive for the payment of the PHCN workers, which may commence this week,” he said.

Nebo also said that a proper audit of the payment processes, which delayed the final disbursement of funds to the workers, had been concluded.

The minister said the Federal Government had so far disbursed N21.2bn to the three segments of the nation’s electricity supply industry.

The segments, according to him, are electricity generation, transmission and distribution companies.

While outlining the efforts made in funding the sector, he said, “These include the release of AfDB (African Development Bank) loan of $100m to the TCN (Transmission Company of Nigeria) for critical transmission projects, and the release of N5.2bn special intervention fund to distribution and generation companies for operation and maintenance services.”

 

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Govt orders payment of disengaged PHCN workers

 

 Electricity firms get N5.2b special fund

• Private investors decry scarcity of gas

AN end to the controversy over the payment of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) workers who are to be disengaged to enable new owners take over the country’s electricity plants is apparently now in sight.

And worried by the failure of the PHCN and its predecessors to effectively collect revenue, independent electricity producers in the country have charged government to hasten action on the issuance of prepaid meters to consumers.

The Chairman of the Independent Power Producers Association of Nigeria, Prof. Jerry Gana, told The Guardian at the Federal Ministry of Power-Siemens Power Development Forum in Abuja that gas and meter issues should be resolved quickly to make the sector more attractive to private investors.

The Federal Government’s directive on the immediate release of severance pay to the workers came after many postponements.

In what looks like a last-minute effort to put the nation’s electricity utilities in reasonable shape before final take-over by new owners, government has released N5.2 billion, a kind of special intervention fund, to distribution and generation companies for operation and maintenance .

Minister of Power, Chinedu Nebo, who disclosed this Tuesday at the forum, stressed that he had approved the payment to start immediately and was hopeful that the workers would get their severance pay before the end of the week.

Highlighting some challenges that previously plagued the electricity sector, he said: “Labour negotiations were stalled because of complaints about non-coverage of temporary members of staff in the settlement scheme. There were existing schisms between TCN and Manitoba because of unclear delineation of roles. Consequently, Manitoba’s members of staff were not allowed access to their offices. The transmission network, which hitherto had received very little investment, was becoming increasingly unstable and more sensitive to new generation. There was uncertainty and loss of confidence among some of our key investors and critical development partners about the commitment of the government to the reform process and the transformation of the power sector in general.”

Faced with the task of getting the sector back on the transformation track, he stressed that government had managed to “steer the ship in the right direction and has recorded some significant achievements ever since.”

 

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High price of darkness in Nigeria

 

The charge per kilowatt-hour on electricity in Nigeria, which hitherto was N225, has been arbitrarily increased to over N700 with the New Multi-Year Tariff Order of the Nigerian Electricity Regulating Commission (NERC) amidst epileptic power supply for customers of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) across the country, reports SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, Adeola Yusuf.

A series of Power Sector Polls conducted by NOI Polls Limited for the second quarter of 2013, last week, showed that 130 million Nigerians generate their own electricity. “A combined average of 69 per cent of Nigerians or 110 million Nigerians, have experienced increase in their spending on alternative power supply compared to a year ago,” the polls’ results released last Wednesday showed.

On the day the poll result was published too, customers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in their hundreds besieged the Mushin office of the company while millions of other Nigerians planned protests over the new Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO), which was reflected in the June bill that the PHCN served to their customers across Nigeria.

While residents of Satellite Town, who have suffered neglect under Eko Electricity Distribution zone, described the hike as inhuman, the labour union disclosed that less than 10 per cent of consumers would be able to pay the outrageous tariff in the next few years.

A resident of the town, a settlement in Lagos told Daily Independent on condition of anonymity

 

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Power crisis ends soon as FG increases gas supply – Alison-Madueke

 

By Clara Nwachukwu and Michael EbohThe Federal Government has given the assurance that the end is near for the nation’s current power crises, as more gas will be released to feed the power generating plants in the country.The assurance was given last week by the Minister for Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, in her presentation titled: “Moving the oil and gas sector to the next level,” delivered at the 2013 Ministerial Platform in Abuja.For decades, Nigeria had been plunged into a seemingly endless energy crisis on account of a plethora of reasons including gas supply shortages.

 

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FG Allays Fears of Job Loss from Power Reforms

 

 

Prof Chinedu Nebo, Power Minister

Chineme Okafor

The federal government has made known its intention to avoid possible loss of jobs in Nigeria’s power sector to expatriates when its concludes the ongoing reform, which has seen it unbundle and sell off state owned power company, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, disclosed recently at the 2013 ministerial platform to underscore the ministry’s scorecard as part of the mid-term achievement of President Goodluck Jonathan administration that government was wary of existing skills gap in the power sector following long dearth of manpower training in the sector and has thus, initiated moves to mitigate against possible loss of jobs to expatriates.

Unlike the country’s petroleum sector, which faced serious loss of top jobs to expatriates as well as a good amount of annual industry spends to foreign outsourcing firms until when the government enacted a local content law for the sector, Nebo stated that the government had initiated efforts through the National Power Training Institute (NAPTIN) to ensure that the right staffing for the sector are sourced locally.

He noted a graduate trainee programme aimed at producing personnel equipped with the basic skills required in the power sector had been initiated by NAPTIN, adding that the power sector was currently grappling with shortage of technical personnel to man key power installations.

 

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NERC probes PHCN over N2.9b metering intervention fund

 

 

By Obas Esiedesa/Abuja

Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) that are in violation of its order to submit a list of all customers who paid for meters since January 2011, and begin metering them with immediate effect.

It would be recalled that in 2011, “a N2.9 billion metering intervention fund was made available to the companies with a view to closing the unacceptable metering gap. One year after, the companies made no appreciable progress, and this compelled NERC to demand for performance reports from the DISCOs.

“Eight of the 12 DISCOs submitted reports that fell far short of the requirements of NERC. The rest did not submit any report of how they spent the money”, NERC added.

A statement by the commission at the weekend warned that any DISCO that fails to comply with this new directive would be barred from collecting the new electricity tariff.

NERC in a letter dated July 19, to the DISCOs “expressed its utter dismay that all DISCOs have been in complete violation of the order as it relates to customers who have made payments within the given time frame, and have not been identified for immediate metering.

“NERC views this conduct as totally unresponsive, and undermining the effort of the reform,” Chairman of the commission, Dr. Sam Amadi stated.

 

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Workers threaten power sector strike over unpaid wages, promotions

Workers in the nation’s Power sector have handed a 14-day ultimatum to the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, to address pending issues in the sector or risk industrial unrest.

Under the umbrella of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) demanded among others that workers’ one year entitlement not captured by the agreement with government in 2012, be computed pro-rata and paid to staff before full severance payment is effected.

The union in a petition through its General Secretary, Joe Ajaero, to Minister of Power is also aggrieved that some top echelon of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, were promoted allegedly without due process, while other workers were left without promotion despite the fact that going by PHCN’s conditions of service, it was expected that by June 2013, promotion of workers in the sector would have been conducted.

NUEE in the petition, also copied the Labour Minister, Chief Emeka Wogu, among others, read “We have been watching with keen interest the issues surrounding staff promotion in recent time in Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, and the manipulations associated with it. It is quite amazing that some staff especially at the top echelon were promoted without due adherence to Federal Character Policy, Public Service Rules and PHCN Conditions of Service.

 

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FG shops for extra N16 bn for PHCN workers severance

LEO ALIGWO (Asst. Bus. Editor)

The federal Government is shopping for additional N16 billion to enable it effectively settle the severance benefit of the embattled workers of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo has revealed.
Nebo said the government has so far committed a whooping N384 billion to the payment of PHCN staffers’ terminal benefits, reassuring that all categories of workers would get entitlement as earlier programmed under the ongoing reform in the power sector.


Consequently, the biometric data of the PHCN workforce had already been captured by the presidential Task Force on Privatization of the Power Sector in a bid to avoid payment severance package to ghost workers.
The Minister who made the revelation, weekend, while fielding questions on the African Independent Television (AIT), Abuja, on the activities of his ministry in the past one year running emphasized that government is seriously committed to repositioning of the Power Sector for optimal performance in line with the President Goodluck Jonathan Transformation Agenda of the Power sector.
He strongly assured that power supply would stabilize in Nigeria by the year 2015, contending that efforts had been intensified to further improve on the 4000 megawatts presently being generated by PHCN.



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PHCN CUSTOMERS' FORUM

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Sale of Power Plants: Will Nigerians smile at last?

 

THE Federal Government, from current happenings in the National Integrated Power Plants (NIPP) where 10 gas-fired stations are up for sale, seems to be on course with the implementation of the 2010 Power Sector Reform.

In the official circle, there is a growing belief that President Goodluck Jonathan administration is getting it right, and with the necessary political will, may achieve the 2014 target of providing stable electricity in most Nigerian cities for at least 18 hours per day.

Those who think in this way cite the successful unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and its sustenance of power generation at close to 5,000megawatts(mw) for several months, compared to what they described as near zero level generation before the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo initiated the NIPP to build 10 thermal power stations.

Now that the power plants are being completed in less than a decade, the government has thought it wise to leave the projects in the hands of private investors, who have become better business managers across the globe than government, for better management to realize the goal of the investments.

All the lead actors in the power sector reform, including President Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Power Minister, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, and the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Power Holding Development Company (NDPHC), which built the power plants, Mr. James Olotu, are optimistic that Nigerians will smile at the end of the day.

 

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2 arraigned over alleged battering of PHCN worker

Two men on Friday appeared before an Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos over alleged battery of a Power Holding Company of Nigeria worker who attempted to disconnect their electric power supply.
Kunle Adeyemi, 22, and Adebowale Peter, 20, both of whom reside at First Gate, Powerline, Ikorodu, are standing trial on a two-count charge of battery and obstruction.

According to the Prosecutor, Sgt. Iyabo Johnson, the duo battered Mr Adeoye Temitope, on July 17 at their residence.
Johnson said that the duo inflicted injuries on the eyes of the worker.
She said that the worker attempted to stop the power supply due to indebtedness of the accused to the company.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 171 and 172 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty, and were granted bail in the sum of N200,000 and two sureties in like sum.

 

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Govt can’t pay N400bn exit package – NUEE

By DAVID ONWUCHEKWA, Nnewi

The Leadership of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has expressed its determination not to surrender to the Federal Government until the N400 billion exit package owed its members nation-wide are paid to the last kobo.

The National President of NUEE, Mr. Mansur Musa, made the disclosure at its 2-day, 3rd annual leadership-training programme held in Anambra State.

Corroborating the assertion, General Secretary of NUEE, Mr. Joe Ajaero, said government has no money to pay off PHCN workers, but was rather, deceiving Nigerians that it has the money.

Ajaero challenged government to pay the terminal benefits right away if the money is available as claimed, saying the union is equally demanding for 10 per cent equity stake.

He stated that Nigeria was practicing what he called a prodigal economy, adding that no reform had ever succeeded in the nation “except during the Buhari/Idiagbon administration which did not last.”

“Is it only PHCN that is not working? What about the school system, security, politics and all other sectors? Are they working? The privatization exercise objective is defeated. Our entitlements are over N400 billion but our annual revenue from the company is over N300 billon.

Then you sold PHCN at N200 billion and the aim is defeated,” he said. He noted that the management of the PHCN should have been fine-tuned instead of outright privatization, saying that it was the worst decision government had ever taken.

 

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Metering: NERC to Bar PHCN Discos from New Tariff Framework

 

Sam Amadi, NERC Chairman

• Threatens to dismiss laggard CEOs

 

Chineme Okafor

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is set to “come down heavy” on any of the successor distribution companies (disco) of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) found guilty of contravening its order on the installation of metering facilities to eligible electricity consumers across the country.

NERC also threatened to initiate enforcement procedures against errant discos, adding that such action could see laggard Chief Executives Officers (CEOs) of any guilty disco removed from office.

To this end, NERC Thursday in Abuja issued a 14-day ultimatum to the 12 PHCN distribution companies, warning them to immediately commence metering of customers, who have paid for meters from January 2011, stressing that further violation of its order for them to submit a list of all the electricity consumers would attract severe penalties from it.

Chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, said in a statement from the commission, that: “Any disco that does not comply with this new directive will be barred from collecting the new electricity tariff.”

 

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130m Nigerians generate own electricity – NOI Polls

About 81 per cent or 130 million Nigerians, out of the about 160 million Nigerians, generated their own electricity through alternative sources to compensate for irregular power supply, according to the result of a series of Power Sector Polls conducted by NOI Polls Limited for the second quarter of 2013.

According to the results made available to Vanguard, a combined average of 69 per cent of Nigerians or 110 million Nigerians, have experienced increase in their spending on alternative power supply compared to a year ago.

The result of the poll further showed that an average of 47 per cent of Nigerian adults said that electricity supply was poor or went from bad to worse in the second quarter of 2013.

According to the poll results, the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA), passed in 2005, initiated the unbundling of government’s power plants under the Nigerian Electricity Power Authority (NEPA).

“They were formed into business units and regulated by the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) thus paving the way for public-private partnership and consequently the privatization of the power sector.

“The privatisation process is still underway and is intended to revive the power sector and invariably the Nigerian economy, as homes and industries alike will receive adequate and consistent quality of power supply.

 

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PHCN loses 20 sub-stations in 12 months in Anambra

AMAECHI PERCY ONYE-JEKWE, Awka

THE Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), Awka Business Unit, has decried the high rate of vandalism of its installations in Anambra.
To this end, it has solicited the sustained support of security agencies, especially the State Security Services (SSS), police and vigilance groups to assist in protecting its facilities in the state.

The Public Relations Officer, Awka Business Unit, Mrs Christy Nwanguma, made the appeal in an interview with Journalists in Awka on Thursday.
Nwanguma noted that millions of naira and more than 20 PHCN sub-stations had been lost to vandalism within the past 12 months in Anambra State.
“The major challenge we have is vandalism of PHCN installations, meter by-pass, meter theft of which we are losing millions of naira to. As it is now, more than 20 sub-stations are out as a result of the activities of vandals across the state. At a point, in less than two days, we lost five sub-stations to vandalism and this is affecting our job,” Nwanguma said.
The public relations officer, however, assured that if installations were not tampered with, power supply would be sustained and efficient, adding that work was also on-going at the new Agu-Awka sub-station.
Nwaguma noted that the new sub-station, when completed would provide constant power supply to the state capital and its environs.

 

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Amadi and fraudulent electricity tariff increases

 

ASIDE from ensuring that the quality of service delivered to the helpless public remains perpetually poor, one other thing Nigerian electricity providers have perfected over the years is the habit of foisting on consumers regular and unjustifiable tariff increases. The latest increase has taken the form of what has been described as “fixed charge.” This new tariff makes it mandatory for electricity consumers to pay between N700 and N800 monthly – up from N500 – regardless of whether the consumer makes use of electricity for the period or not.

Unfortunately for longsuffering Nigerians, help does not seem to be forthcoming from anywhere, as the National Electricity Regulatory Commission boss, Sam Amadi, has already given his blessing to the increase. In his candid opinion, “the tariff must increase despite shortfalls in service delivery.” This line of thought is not only whimsical, it is downright fraudulent. It is perhaps only in Nigeria that a democratically-elected government or its agents take pleasure in inflicting needless pains on citizens.

 

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Privatised Firms will List on NSE, BPE Assures Operators

 

DG, BPE, Benjamin Dikki

The Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), Mr. Benjamin Dikki, Wednesday assured stock market operators that some of the companies that would come out of the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria Plc (PHCN) would be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

The unbundling of the PHCN led to the establishment of about 17 electricity distribution companies (Discos) generating companies (Gencos) that are being sold to private investors.

Speaking during a visit to the NSE in Lagos, Dikki said the companies would come to the exchange for listing because the remaining government shareholdings would be divested through the exchange.

“The Gencos will come by way of differed public offer later. We also expect many of the companies to come to the capital market to raise long term finance. I want to assure you that the federal government is committed to growing and increasing the depth of the capital market.

The federal government recognises the role of the capital market in providing long term funding that will drive investments in the country,” he said.

 

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17 PHCN Successor Companies For Public Listing – BPE

 

The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), said it would ensure that the 17 Power Holding Companies of Nigeria (PHCN) successor companies and a good number of other companies are brought to the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for listing .

Speaking on the floor of NSE, the director- general of BPE, Mr. Benjamin Dikki, said that in the next few years, as the Nigerian electricity supply sector moves into the hands of private sector owners and mature, the 17 PHCN successor companies would come for listing.

The director-general said that the remaining government shareholdings in the DISCOs being privatised through core investor sale strategy would be divested through the Exchange. He stated that BPE has always been in partnership with the NSE.

“The relationship between the bureau, the NSE and the Nigerian capital market is a long standing one, ”he said.

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No Power For Houses Under High Tension Wire

Management of Power Holding Company (PHCN) in Niger State has warned residents and property owners under high tension wires in the district to relocate from such areas or face service disconnection.

Mr Paul Onwuzuruike, the Business Manager, PHCN’s Bosso Business Unit, gave the warning on Tuesday when he spoke to journalists in Minna.

He said the warning had become necessary due to the inherent dangers of living under high tension cables.

Onwuzuruike said if the affected residents failed to move out from the danger zone, electricity supply to residential buildings and related property along its service line would be disconnected.

He also warned people against illegal connections, saying such act could lead to electrocution and related hazard associated with illegal connections.

 

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ICPC Arrests PHCN Official For Allegedly Demanding N100,000 Bribe

 

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Wednesday arrested Omololu Gabriel of the Power Holding Company Nigeria (PHCN) for allegedly demanding N100,000 bribe.


Gabriel, a Principal Manager with the PHCN Distribution Company, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, was arrested by the operatives of the commission following a petition filed against him by a petitioner.


A statement signed by the Head of Media, ICPC, Mr Folu Olamiti, said the petitioner had formally applied for purchase and installation of two transformers and filed his application to the principal manager’s office.


According to the statement, the accused demanded for N100,000 when he received the application.


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Electricity distribution companies made N189bn revenue •Afam, Kaduna financial bids to be opened July 31

 

 

As of May this year, electricity distribution companies in the country realised N189bn as revenue despite poor supply to consumers.

This was against the N151bn collected as total revenue by the companies in 2011.

This was contained in a document obtained by our correspondent from the Federal Ministry of Power on the achievements of the government in the sector.

Speaking on the development at the Ministerial Platform in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, described the revenue rise as a key achievement of his ministry.

The rise in revenue may not be unconnected with the increase in electricity tariff being collected by the distribution companies, as only last week, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission insisted that the fixed electricity charges must increase despite erratic power supply.

Outlining other achievements of the government in power sector, Nebo said the current nominal distribution capacity stood at 7,325 megawatts as against 6,360MW in 2011.

He said installed generation capacity as of May 2013 was 9,920MW, while available capacity was 6,522MW against 9,097MW and 5,563MW respectively in 2011.

 

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Strike could worsen Nigeria power woes

Lagos - Nigeria could be plunged into darkness at the end of the month if government does not give in to severance packages pay demands by workers in the power sector.

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), issued the warning in a statement in Lagos where Chairman of the local chapter Adeleke Ibrahim, said the union had already issued a nine-day ultimatum that would expire on July 31.

He said the union would resist any further delays in payment of the severance packages.

“At the end of this month, if nothing is done, we will come out as usual and Nigerians will now know who we are. We are not pretending over that,"
he said.

"The workers had waited long enough since last year for the severance package to be paid."

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Despite Obvious Challenges, FG Still Upbeat on Better Power Supply

 

 

Prof. Chinedu Nebo

Chineme Okafor in Abuja

The federal government yesterday again assured Nigerians that the country would soon witness revolutionary changes in her power sector notwithstanding obvious extant challenges bedevilling sustainable power supply nationwide.

The nationwide power supply has continued to fluctuate recently with the government setting responsive measure including the inauguration of a technical committee to investigate the incessant power system collapses in the grid network.

The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, who sounded upbeat on the government’s ability to deliver qualitative and quantitative electricity across Nigeria, stated at the presentation of the ministry’s scorecard as part of the mid-term achievements of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration in Abuja, claiming that the government has so far performed creditably in the power sector and would go ahead to consolidate on recorded gains.

Nebo said the consolidation plan through government’s reform programmes in the sector will see improvement in duration of power supply by 16 to 24 hours per day, adding that it anticipated all efforts of the government in this regard to come through by the last quarter of 2014. Parts of the consolidation plans include the coming into full stream of various power projects under the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs).

 

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Electrician electrocuted while tampering with PHCN installation in Jos

 

The Igbo community in Apata area of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State was thrown into confusion and mourning on Tuesday, as a young man identified as Chukwuebuka Eze was electrocuted while trying to fix a problem on an electric pole close to his shop.

An eyewitness told the Nigerian Tribune that the late Eze, who was an electrician, took advantage of power failure in the area to climb a pole close to his shop at the about 1:00 p.m with the intention of changing to regular supply phase to his shop.

The eyewitness disclosed that while trying to effect the change, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) restored light to the area and the young man was electrocuted instantly.

It was gathered that the people within the vicinity noticed the calamity when there were sporadic sparks and his shirt caught fire in the process while he remained glued to the pole. Those who thronged the scene were initially helpless as they could not do anything to rescue him from the pole.

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Eko PHCN commences implementation of free prepaid CAPMI meters

 

FOLLOWING the introduction of accelerated intervention scheme by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), to address the challenges of estimated billing of customers by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has announced the commencement of the implementation of the Credit Advance Payment for Metering Installation (CAPMI).

The CAPMI was designed by NERC to fill the gap created by the old metering system as contained in the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) II, in which inadequate funding of the programme led to shortage in supply of the prepaid meters and continuous of crazy billings.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), EKEDC, Dr Oladele Amoda, explained that CAPMI would ensure that willing customers of PHCN within the company’s network who were ready to advance payment would get prepaid meters within a maximum of 45 days.

According to him, “when a willing customer ‘borrow’ us N25000 for single phase or N50000 for double phase meter for example, he will get the prepaid meter within 48 hours or maximum of 45 days. This interval includes days of inspections of where the meter will be installed by our technical staffs, to be sure the customer actually needs it.”

 

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Professor Nebo: Why Nigeria cannot key into global trends in electricity generation

 

By Francis Ogbimi

Nigerian governments have been announcing growth without development or growth that makes no positive impact on Nigerians and the economy since 1999. That means that all through the Obasanjo’s years 1999-2007, the late Yar’ Adua’s years 2007-2010 and Jonathan years so far 2010-now, Nigeria has been announcing growth in government books alone, without any positive impact on the people and the economy. It must be that Nigerian politicians share the billions and trillions of Naira budgeted every year through white elephant projects or steal the money outright. Otherwise, some people in government should have done something about Nigeria achieving growth without development for fourteen consecutive years. Nigeria must be doing the wrong things. In the three-part article entitled, “Introducing growth elements into the Nigerian planning and budgeting processes,” published in this column, I argued that Nigeria’s planning lacks appropriate planning theory, appropriate planning framework and realistic assumptions. This article discusses how inappropriate assumptions constitute a serious obstacle to Nigeria’s development

 

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CAPMI’ll eradicate outrageous billing – Eko PHCN

 

By ADEWALE SANYAOLU

Electricity consumers in the Lagos zone have been assured that the adoption of the Credit Advance Payment for Metering Installation (CAPMI) within the network of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKDC) will put to rest the incessant cases of “crazy billing system,” the Managing Director, Mr. Oladele Amoda, has said.

Amoda stated this at the launch of the CAPMI programme in Lagos at the weekend. He said the introduction of CAPMI was necessitated by the introduction of accelerated intervention scheme by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to address the challenges of estimated billing of customers.

To make the initiative a reality while also ensuring prompt and effective installation of pre-paid meter to customers, Amoda said EKDC was partnering two local meter manufacturers to commence CAPMI within its network.

 

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FG gets ultimatum on PHCN workers’ severance package

 

The National Union of Electricity Employees has threatened to stage a nationwide protest if payment of Power Holding Company of Nigeria workers’ severance package is not implemented by the Federal Government.

Mr. Adeleke Ibrahim, the Chairman, Lagos Chapter of NUEE, Mr. Adeleke Ibrahim, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos that the union had given an ultimatum of end of July.

Ibrahim said that the payment had suffered setbacks due to the inability of the Federal Ministry of Power to put their records straight.

He, however, advised the committees and government agencies saddled with the computation of the workers’ severance package to expedite action and ensure they were paid on time.

According to Ibrahim, the union will resist any further delay in payment of the severance package as from the end of this month.

“At the end of this month, if nothing is done, we will come out as usual and Nigerians will now know who is who. We are not pretending over that,’’ he said.

 

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Electricity outage looms as workers plan protest

 

 

Electricity workers issue ultimatum

Electricity generation, transmission and distribution may be disrupted in the nation as electricity workers have concluded plans to embark on strike. The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), which issued the threat yesterday in Lagos, said that the union was set to protest if the payment of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN workers’ severance package was not implemented by the Federal Government.

Chairman of the Lagos chapter of NUEE, Mr. Adeleke Ibrahim, said the union had already issued a nine-day ultimatum that would expire on July 31, 2013. Ibrahim said the payment had suffered setbacks due to the inability of the Federal Ministry of Power to put its records straight.

The chairman urged the committees and government agencies saddled with the computation of the workers’ severance package to expedite action and ensure they were paid on time. Ibrahim said the union would resist any further delay in payment of the severance package as from the end of this month.

 

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VANDALS AND THE POWER SECTOR

 

Securing electricity equipment will do much to shore up power supply

Critical stakeholders in the power sector have lately been worried about the activities of vandals. Indeed, it was recently explained that the massive load shedding being experienced nationwide was caused by the vandalism of two major gas pipelines supplying gas to eight power generating stations. In a statement signed by the General Manager (Public Affairs), TCN, Mr. Dave Ifabiyi, the company said that one of the vandalised gas pipelines was taking supply from the Okoloma gas plant, while the other from Escravos. The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, was to further highlight this growing menace when he spoke of the havoc vandals are doing to prevent a realisation of the power reforms agenda of the administration. So endemic is the incidence of vandalism of electricity equipment that except drastic action is taken to contain the menace, the much-touted reform of the power sector may be no more than a mirage.

In a recent editorial, we had cause to warn of the wanton activities of these criminal elements, following disclosures that the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company lost many distribution transformer substations under its network to these vandals. The company had said in a statement that the increasing rate at which its equipment were being vandalised had reached unacceptable proportions. It further noted that the criminal act which had initially reduced after the conviction of two vandals to various terms of imprisonment had assumed a dangerous dimension in the last six months.

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EKO DISCO, partners Momas, Mojec International for pre -paid meters

 

The Eko Electricity Distribution Company {DISCO} has entered into a partnership with two indigenous companies, Momas and Mojec international, who are manufacturers of pre –paid meters and other accessories to produce and make the meters available for customers.

The scheme known as the Credited Advance Payment Implementation, CAPMI scheme kicked off in Lagos with Eko Distribution Company of Power Holding Company of Nigeria blazing the trail.

The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, the regulatory body of the power sector had earlier ordered all DISCO’s in the country to commence the CAPMI scheme in a bid to close the gap of customers not metered in the country.

The scheme which is meant for willing customers who will pay up-front for the purchase of the meter was officially launched weekend in Lagos by EKO DISCO.

 

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RIGHT OF REPLY: Nebo, Demons and the Fabian option

 

By Sunny Igboanugo

Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus was a Roman General. In 217 BC, he was faced with the huge and intimidating task of defeating Hannibal, the Carthaginian General, who had invaded his country. Weighed against the invading army, Fabius’ troops had no chance at all. But fight he must, lest Rome be overrun.

Therefore, he had to devise a strategy. He avoided pitched battles and frontal assaults in favour of wearing down his opponent through a war of attrition and indirection. While evading decisive battles, he employed the tactics of harassing the soldiers of Hannibal in small columns by taunting them and causing them to pursue him through the hills until they got tired, without actually fighting.

 

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Vandalism, slow contract execution threaten planned 4,000MW

 

Vandalism of some power plants and the slow pace of contract execution by some of the contractors handling some of the projects are currently affecting the Federal Government’s desire to add 4,000MW to the national grid soon.

This was revealed during the 29th meeting of the Board of Niger Delta Power Holding Company of Nigeria, operators of National Integrated Power Plants, presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday.

A statement made available at the end of the meeting quoted members of the board as expressing apprehension over the spate of vandalism in parts of the country, especially the recent one at Afam in Delta State, where gas facilities were vandalised.

The incident, they observed, had affected power output in the country.

 

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Electricity companies not poorly funded –NERC

 

 

Power generation and distribution companies in Nigeria are not poorly funded, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has said.

According to NERC, the funds generated from electricity fixed charges are enough to cover the operations of the distribution and generation companies before the firms are finally taken over by their respective private investors.

The Chairman of the commission, Dr. Sam Amadi, who stated this, refuted claims that power firms in Nigeria were suffering from paucity of funds.

He challenged the firms to state their demands rather than complain about financial problems.

 

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PHCN Workers’ Strike Paralyses Activities In Anambra

 

Economic and social activities within the Enugu zone of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) have been at low ebb for days now following a cut in electricity supply due to strike embarked upon by workers of the PHCN within the zone.

The Awka business unit headquarters of the PHCN up till yesterday was still under lock and key as the workers deserted their duty posts to pressurise the management to meet their demand.

One of the PHCN workers told LEADERSHIP WEEKEND that they embarked on strike to compel the PHCN management to pay them all their outstanding claims like transfer allowance, hotel accommodation and other personal expenses they incurred while discharging their official duties.

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Nigeria begins recruitment of 500 engineers for new power plants – Gov. Fayemi

 

 

The Ekiti Governor bemoaned the quality of Nigerian graduate engineers.

The Federal Government has said it has begun the recruitment of 500 qualified engineers for the effective running of the nation’s 10 new power plants.

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti made this known to State House correspondents after a meeting of the Board of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo in Abuja on Friday.

Mr. Fayemi, who is also a member of the board, said the exercise was meant to address the critical challenge of lack of skilled manpower in the nation’s power sector. He said that lack of skilled manpower was threatening the smooth take off and operations of the new power plants built across the country.

”We also looked at the National Power Training Institute (NAPTI), all of these plants are coming on stream and we are excited about them.

 

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Power Supply: Hope, Anxiety As New Thermal Stations Go Under The Hammer

 

A recent Expression of Interest notice published in many national dailies invited strategic private sector investors to bid for some brand new thermal power stations jointly built by the three tiers of government. Against this backdrop, RICHARD ABU, Abuja, reviews the on-going implementation of the power sector reforms Giddy euphoria is apparent in official circle as the government thinks that it is on track to deliver on its power sector reforms agenda. From the sale of some of the successor companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to the sustenance of power generation (now hovering around 5,000megawatts (mw), as against the spurt and start ‘norm’ of generation output, which prompted then President Olusegun Obasanjo administration to initiate the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP), to building 10 gas-fired power plants, the President Goodluck Jonathan government, is upbeat on the recent and current events in the power sector. 

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Sambo summons Okonjo-Iweala, others over electricity tariff funds

Vice President Namadi Sambo has expressed dismay over what he called the inadequate funds coming from the Multi-Year-Tariff-Order (MYTO) and the inability to pay for gas.

Speaking at the State House in Abuja yesterday during the 29th meeting of the Board of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company of Nigeria (NDPHC), Sambo summoned Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and other stakeholders to a meeting to hold next week.
The MYTO provides a 15-year tariff path for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
The vice president also frowned at the delay in completing the Gwagwalada sub-station, saying although the timetable for its commissioning has been drawn, he cannot take President Goodluck Jonathan to commission “the power project that would fail immediately after commissioning”.
Sambo commended the Ministry of Power for establishing the National Power Training Institute (NAPTIN), which he noted would train the much-needed manpower to operate power plants after privatisation.

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FG commends power ministry over training institute

500 students are about to graduate from the institute.

The Federal Government has commended the Ministry of Power for setting up the National Power Training Institute, NAPTIN, and undertaking the training of personnel in the power sector.

The commendation was given today by the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, during the 29th meeting of the Board of Niger Delta Power Holding Company of Nigeria, NDPHC, operators of NIPP, at the State House, Abuja.

Mr. Sambo said NAPTIN would be able to train the much needed manpower in the power sector, who would be operating the power plants even after privatization.

He noted that the institution should be upgraded in order to attract the patronage of other companies within and outside the country, adding that the private sector should be involved.

 

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PHCN to generate 16, 400 jobs in 5 years

 

Successor companies in the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) have promised to generate 16,200 employment opportunities for skilled technical manpower in the next five years with immediate requirement of 8, 400 technical manpower in generation, transmission and distribution companies.

Speaking during the presentation of admission letters to 15 Kwara State youths, who were part of the 500 beneficiaries of graduate skills development programme, under the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), in Ilorin on Thursday, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Gold, said governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has approved N20 million to sponsor the training Programme of the youth from the state.

The SSG, who said the 15 graduates were selected from the three Senatorial districts of the state for the one-year programme, added that the programme is aimed at positioning the beneficiaries for employment in the power sector in view of vast employment opportunities in the sector.

He said the N20million approved for the programme was meant to cover tuition fees, accommodation and other logistics, adding that the beneficiaries who are mostly first class graduates in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering were selected from the state’s unemployed youths’ data base.

The scheme, Gold added, would provide the graduates the practical knowledge and skills in the generation, distribution and transmission chains of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and position them for employment opportunities in the sector.

 

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Pre-Paid Meter: EKO DISCO launches CAPMI scheme

 

By KUNLE KALEJAYE

THE Credited Advance Payment Implementation Scheme, CAPMI, has been officially launched for the first time in the Nigeria by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN Eko Distribution Company, yesterday, in Lagos, to provide meters to consumers.

The scheme is meant for customers to pay up-front for the purchase of the meter.

The cost of the meter will be refunded to the customers through a billing process spread across for three years with 12 per cent interest.

It would be recalled that the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, the regulatory body of the power sector, had ordered all DISCOs in the country to commence the CAPMI scheme in a step to close the gap of meter shortage in the country.

However, customers will bear the cost of the accessories of the meter while vendors with registered account with DISCO will provide 24 hour installation service to the customers on the day of payment.

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Nigeria: Why NERC Is Sceptical About Planned Review of EPSR Act

 

Parts of the reasons why the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is sceptical about the planned review of the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act by the ministry of power was yesterday fully disclosed to THISDAY.

According to a source privy to the ongoing impasse between the regulatory body and ministry of power on the planned review, NERC had from its standpoint as the sector regulator highlighted the possible danger of wrong signal from the planned holistic review of the Act on the ground that the Act had so far not been sufficiently practicalised to warrant such a comprehensive review.

The source stated in Abuja, that apart from the possible misreading of the planned review by global investing communities, the commission also felt that it should not be involved as a participant in the processes leading to the review but more as a watchdog to ensure strict adherence to standards in the process.

To this end, the source disclosed that NERC had in its discussion with the ministry, expressed its reservation to a request by the ministry for Mallam Imamuddeen Talba, who is a deputy general manager within the commission, to chair a committee set up to review the EPSR Act.

 

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