Yemisi Izuora
Manufacturing Sector in Kano State is enjoying sustainable electricity supply with tariff considered lower than market rate.
The Management of Kano Electricity Distribution Plc. (KEDCO), explained that the sector is enjoying reliable power at competitive rates significantly below market costs courtesy of the benevolence of the DisCo because of their pivotal role in the local economy.
The DisCo explained that by easing their financial burden, it is creating a more enabling environment to foster innovation and employment generation, while achieving its foremost vision of excellence in service delivery.
The DisCo therefore expressed dismay over recent claims of poor electricity supply and high tariffs by the manufacturers in the Challawa Industrial area of Kano.
This counter follows claims made by the Secretary, Challawa Industrial Manufacturers Association, Aliyu Mahadi, in an interview on Channels Television, when a delegation from NDPHC and NASENI visited the industrial cluster in Kano, recently. Therefore, KEDCO is compelled to address the outright falsehoods therein, stating that they are untrue and malicious.
To set the record straight, the DisCo said that from its daily dispatch records, available hours of supply for feeders in the challawa industrial area – 33kV Coca Cola, 11kV Ceramic, and 11kV NBC, all Band A have consistently recorded a daily average of 23:45 hours of supply, throughout the month and prior.
Additionally, contrary to the claims that they get Band C services despite their feeders being Band A, it said that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) closely monitors and assesses its service level compliance, and if such claims were true, the feeders would have been subjected to a downgrade as part of the service contract agreements.
“Our ultimate goal is to power every home and business in our franchise area. As we continue to execute initiatives towards achieving that goal, we prioritise power supply to social service providers and industrial clusters such as the Challawa, in line with our industrialisation and economic empowerment vision.
“Over the past 12 months, KEDCO has taken deliberate steps to cushion the impact of rising energy costs on SMEs.
“We recognise their pivotal role in our local economy, supplying manufacturers with reliable power at competitive rates significantly below market costs. By easing their financial burden, we are creating a more enabling environment to foster innovation and employment generation, while achieving our foremost vision of excellence in service delivery.
“KEDCO, therefore, urges its customers to verify information and facts before drawing conclusions and making misleading statements capable of damaging its image and reputation.
“KEDCO remains committed to enhancing service delivery through continuous improvement in power supply, leveraging investment in network expansion and upgrades to improve reliability and reduce losses.” head Corporate Communications of the DisCo, Bala Sani said.