PHCN Distributes 10,000 Pre-Paid Meters

The Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) has started installing 10, 000 units of pre-paid meters in houses and industries in its Lokoja Business District.

Mr Ameen Shakur, the Business Manager in the Lokoja, Business District told journalists that the organisation started giving the meters to interested consumers since April 16.

He noted that the meters were being installed after the payment of N55, 000 and N25, 000 for three- phase and single phase meters, respectively.

He noted that the meters were being given out on first come, first served basis, adding that a vending office had been opened in the PHCN office in Lokoja to sell cards to consumers.

He said the pre-paid meters would go a long way in addressing the problem of “crazy bills” and also ensure that consumers paid only for services rendered.

Shakur stated that the 10, 000 units were meant only for Lokoja and that the distribution of the meters would be extended to other parts of the state as soon as possible.

He said that the current poor power supply situation in Lokoja was due to lack of gas supply to the 440 megawatts Geregu thermal station and the inadequate allocation to the city from the national grid.

The manager hinted that Lokoja was being allocated less than five megawatts from the national grid against 30 megawatts needed on daily basis to meet the demand of consumers in the district.

“It is very difficult to meet the demand of our customers now and that is why we have adopted load shedding to be fair to all,’’ he said.

Shakur, who has just assumed office in Lokoja, said that he would focus more on maintenance of equipment so as to get more regular supply of power to end users, pointing out that monitoring teams will be set up to regularly monitor the use of pre-paid meters to check abuses, while complaints from consumers would be promptly attended to.