The Management of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Plc(Ikeja Electric) in conjunction with its technical partner, Korean Electricity Company (KEPCO) has concluded plans to carry out enumeration of customers to drive efficiency and effective metering within its network.
Both organisations signed the contract that will kick startthe exercise at Ikeja Electric’s corporate headquarters in Lagos. Speaking during the event, a Director of the company, Mr Kola Adesina, explained that the project will involve mapping the location coordinate of each of the electrical network entities from 132kv/33kv System, 11kv system, Distribution Transformers and poles.
The project, according to Adesina will also involve indexing of Ikeja Electric’s distribution assets such as Power Transformers, Feeder Pillars, High Tension Poles and Distribution Transformers. “This is going to be a thorough project that would ensure a solid foundation for efficient, equitable and transparent power supply to our esteemed customers. The customer and consumer indexing will be carried out through door-to-door survey. We are appealing to all our customers and the good people of Lagos to support the project by cooperating with the enumerators and provide accurate information that would empower Ikeja Electric to give the best service possible to all customers,” he said.
Adesina stated that the project will provide a platform for assessing and accurately deploying transformers and electricity equipment required in a given community, a development he noted would address challenges faced by customers that would translate to improved power supply.
He added that the project would ensure effective customer segmentation of high and low density areas and will support seamless update of the company’s customer data base. “We are transiting into an era where new technology will drive the campaign against energy theft and distortion of electrical equipment.
“Adesina said that the signing of the contract with KEPCO would also fast track effective metering process. “With this contract, l can boldly say that the kick-starting of our robust metering project has commenced” he said.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of IkejaElectric, Engr. Abiodun Ajifowobaje said that the signing of the contract is in compliance with the directive of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) toDiscos for effective customer enumeration to update their data base. Ajifowobaje said the exercise would enable the company upgrade its system for unrivalled service excellence.
“KEPCO is a leading global player in the power sector and our partnership has been instrumental to the continuing positive developments in Ikeja Electric. The partnership which involves knowledge transfer through robust training and exchange programmes will certainly pave the way for Ikeja Electric to replicate KEPCO’s success in Nigeria.
Responding, the KEPCO Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Yeom Gyoo Chull lauded the IkejaElectric Management for embarking on a project that will transform its operations, adding that KEPCO’s expertise in Geographic Information System (GIS) projects will ensure the exercise is carried out accurately and objectively to produce a world class customer data profile for Ikeja Electric.