Power Sector News and Other Related News Stories For Monday September 12th 2022
South East Traders Commend EEDC On Improved Electricity
The South East Amalgamated Market Traders Association (SEAMATA) has commended the management of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) for a remarkable improvement in power supply within the region.
The commendation was conveyed in a letter addressed to the Chairman, Board of Directors, EEDC, Emeka Offor, and signed by the President General and Secretary General of the association, Chief Gozie Akudolu and Alex Okwudili, respectively.
A statement by the Head of Communications of the company, Emeka Eze, yesterday, said the market association appreciated the challenging business environment in which EEDC has operated and expressed delight that despite these challenges, the company has consistently improved the quality of service to its customers.
“We observed that your company is not only faced with the challenges of poor payment of electricity bills but also increased rate of vandalism by unscrupulous elements, frequent collapse of the national grid, natural disasters that affect your facilities.”
But in spite of all these, you were still able to tremendously improve the supply of electricity to all nooks and crannies of urban and rural areas across the South East.
https://guardian.ng/news/south-east-traders-commend-eedc-on-improved-electricity/
Royal Rumble Continues as BPE Moves to Take Over BEDC
Barring any unforeseeable circumstance, plans are allegedly underway by the Bureau of Public Enterprises to forcefully attempt to take over Benin Electricity Distribution Company Plc (BEDC) a second time.
Despite the fact that the electricity distribution company has a subsisting court injunction by the Federal High Court, Abuja, against the Bureau of Public Enterprises, (BPE) and Henry Ajagbawa, appointed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in July 2022, over the move.
The first time BPE attempted to forcefully take over the company was about two months ago and despite a court order, the defendants invaded the premises of BEDC in Benin City and broke into the office of the Managing Director and the board room bragging of government protection. This prompted the management of BEDC to issue a press statement explaining that there was no contractual, statutory or regulatory basis for the takeover and appointments.
https://thewillnigeria.com/news/royal-rumble-continues-as-bpe-moves-to-take-over-bedc/
Power Investors Incompetent –Electricity Workers
The National Union of Electricity Employees(NUEE) has lamented that power investors that bought assets of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria(PHCN) during the privatisation exercise lack the technical competence and financial muscle to turn around the fortunes of the sector.
Speaking at a media briefing in Benin at the weekend, the Zonal Organizing Secretary, Edo/Delta Generation and Transmission Zone, Mr. Nash Shaibu, lamented that the obnoxious policies being implemented by the Distribution Companies (DisCos) including the estimated billing system which has created an unfriendly work environment for power sector workers.
He said that the union’s opposition to the privatisation of Nigeria’s power sector in November 2013, has been justified by poor electricity distribution to Nigerians across the country.
Shaibu said when the union cried out initially that the would-be handlers lack capacity to manage it, Nigerians thought that they were busy bodies.
‘’Unfortunately however, our outcry was misunderstood by the “hustlers” within the government with a well-orchestrated propaganda against the union which was mischievously accused of trying to protect inefficiency but the union did its best to educate Nigerians on the impending evil.
https://www.sunnewsonline.com/privatisation-power-investors-incompetent-electricity-workers/
FAAN Disconnects NAMA Over N500m Electricity Debt
Officials of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) were at loggerheads at the weekend over electricity supply at Kano Airport.
Members of staff of NAMA including Air Traffic Controllers were cut off from electricity supply over a N500 million debt owed FAAN.
The Airport Manager, Gambo Aboki, said other agencies also affected by the disconnection have since paid up and reconnected, insisting that, if agencies and others refused to pay for electricity consumed, FAAN will not be able to maintain its facilities.
“How will FAAN discharge its responsibilities if other agencies refuse to pay up for services rendered? We are not father Christmas, we need money to run our operations, we also have an obligation,” he said.
Reacting to the development, the association of Air Traffic Controllers at the airport disclosed that they will shut down navigational aids in Kano zone if power is not restored.
https://www.sunnewsonline.com/faan-disconnects-nama-over-n500m-electricity-debt/
Ogonis Blast FG, Hyprep Over Comment on Electricity Project
President, Ogoni Liberation Initiative (OLI), Douglas Fabeke, has described as diversionary tactics, the statement by the Federal Government that it would connect Ogoniland to the national grid to help in sustaining Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Projects (HYPREP)’s water projects.
Recall that HYPREP‘s Coordinator, Dr Ferdinand Giadom, who represented the Minister of Environment at a stakeholder’s meeting, recently in Port Harcourt, had said the power project, in addition to an Ogoni Specialist Hospital, would boost the ongoing clean-up exercise.
But in a swift reaction, Fabeke said the statement was meant to divert attention from their protest letter submitted to HYPREP demanding accountability for the funds released for Ogoni clean-up.
He said it was misleading to have said that the planned power project would sustain HYPREP’s water projects because no such structures were visible in any Ogoni community.
Fabeke said it was worrisome that some Ogoni leaders and top government officials were playing politics with Ogoni clean-up, thereby jeopardising the efforts of late Ken Saro-Wiwa.
A Look at Laws Governing The Power Sector in Nigeria
Just like every other sector in Nigeria, there are laws that regulate the power sector which involves the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity.
The Nigerian electricity law consists of the body of law, which regulates the generation, transmission, distribution and trading of electricity in Nigeria.
The principal law that regulates electricity in Nigeria is the Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005 CAP E7, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (EPSRA).
This law governs the Nigerian electricity industry including electricity generation, transmission, distribution, trading and supply.
The Act was enacted to cater for the formation of companies to take over the functions, assets, liabilities, and staff of the National Electric Power Authority, to develop competitive electricity markets and also to establish the NERC.
The Act is aimed at enforcing performance standards, it provides for the determination of tariffs and consumer rights protection. It also provides for the licensing requirements to operate in the electricity sector.
https://nairametrics.com/2022/09/11/a-look-at-laws-governing-the-power-sector-in-nigeria/
Police Raises Concerns Over Rise in Electricity Assets Vandalism
The issue came to the fore during a town hall meeting organised by Eko Electricity Distribution Company(EKEDC), at the Islands District to further its strategic engagement with customers under its franchise network.
At the forum, the divisional crime officer of Ikoyi Police Divisional Headquarters, Mr. Ishola Olaitan, observed the spate of vandalism in Ikoyi and Lagos Island which, he said, further contributes to the damage of cables, thus affecting service delivery.
He called on the customers to aid the Police Force and EKEDC in curbing the crime by reporting to such heinous act through its whistleblower platforms.
Held in Victoria Island, the forum was attended by residents of Lagos Island, Victoria Island, and Ikoyi environs.
https://leadership.ng/police-raises-concerns-over-rise-in-electricity-assets-vandalism/
SA Company Becomes O&M Manager for Mega Solar Park
Juwi Renewables Energies Ltd, also known as Juwi South Africa, will become the operational manager of an 85 MW solar park in South Africa. The company revealed that it would be providing operations and maintenance (O&M) services to the De Aar 1 solar farm, located some 500km north of Port Elizabeth and been in operation since 2014.
The addition of De Aar 1 to Juwi’s portfolio expands it to more than 500 MW of assets under operational management in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. In addition, the particular plant participated in Bid Window One of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (REI4P).
Juwi South Africa is part of Germany-based Juwi Group, which, in turn, is owned by Mannheim-based energy supplier MVV Energie AG.
https://theelectricityhub.com/sa-company-becomes-om-manager-for-mega-solar-park/
Tamil Nadu Electricity Tariff Hike News: Power Tariff Increased – Check New Rates
The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO) has hiked the electricity tariff in the state. The company had on Saturday rolled out the hiked power tariff with opposition leaders severely criticising the ruling DMK government.
The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) while giving its nod to power tariff hike, retained the existing scheme of providing 100 units free to domestic, multi-tenements, old age homes and handlooms consumers.
The domestic consumers will have to pay Rs 4.50 per unit consumed, as against Rs 3 per unit up to 500 units, up to 400 units for two months and Rs 6.50 per unit from 401 to 500 units, and Rs 8 per unit for 501 to 600 units.
The cost will be Rs 9 a unit for up to 601 to 800 units consumed, Rs 10 per unit will be charged for 801 to 1,000 units while Rs 11 per unit will be levied for above 1,000 units.
The common supply for lighting and motor pump in small apartments and additional connections in individual apartments should be brought under the new category LT-ID where each unit is charged Rs 8, the regulatory body said.
