Rivers, Others To Get Steady Power In 3 Months

The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) has projected that it would take between 100 days and 180 days to stabilise power supply in the four states under its jurisdiction.

The states are Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers states.

Managing Director of 4Power Consortium, owners of PHEDC, Mr. Matthew Edevbie, made the disclosure yesterday while addressing workers at the inauguration of the company in Port Harcourt.

Edevbie said the projected days would enable the company to restructure its management and put mechanisms in place towards improved electricity supply.

According to him, “we have a very challenging task ahead, but we are confident that we will succeed in satisfying customers and also make profit from our investments. “Workers must brace up to meet the Federal Government and customers’ expectations in providing efficient and stable electricity supply to our catchment states.

“The challenges facing the company in providing stable electricity supply are enormous, but we are equally convinced that the opportunities in the sector are enormous. “In this transition period of 100 to 180 days, we will also focus on upgrading our network as well as harmonise our electricity billings to ensure the company’s survival,” he said.

Edevbie called on workers to abstain from acts that would derail the Federal Government’s power sector reform.

Meanwhile, the Manager of the Trans-Amadi Business Unit, Mr Romanus Chidi, has attributed the drop in electricity supply in the state to the “ongoing upgrade of facilities to boost power supply.”

He said that transmission companies were upgrading transmission power lines to meet expectations of electricity consumers.

“Workers are presently replacing bad transmission cables with new ones and also upgrading the entire network to accommodate more power. “Electricity supply is mostly shut at day time to reduce hazards because workers cannot work when power lines are still transmitting electricity.

“The upgrade will continue until late December and so customers should be patient because the upgrade will enable us provide stable and cost effective electricity supply,” he added.