2021: How PHED Fed Us

A fortnight ago, in this column, I undertook a perfunctory review of Nigeria’s dismal electricity supply situation and suggested an invitation of some experienced energy administrators from outside our shores – most probably Ghana, which appears to have managed its power sector far better.
Today, I have opted to identify a few things a typical Nigerian power distribution company (DisCo) can do in the interim to improve electricity supply services to consumers in its operational zone. And of course, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Plc (PHED) comes in handy here.
PHED is one of the 11 DisCos that emerged from the bidding process conducted during the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in 2013. It covers the four States of Cross River, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa. Call them the CRAB States, for short.
The Port Harcourt DisCo is said to be a subsidiary of 4Power Consortium Limited, an energy systems firm majorly owned by these sub-national entities. About three weeks ago, it was reported that the firm had concluded plans to begin a massive disconnection of its debtor customers effective January 2022.
Managing Director of the outfit, Dr Henry Ajagbawa, was said to have disclosed this during a recent interactive parley with media chiefs in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. He, however, assured that before the commencement of the exercise, such defaulting customers would be allowed up to December 2021 to enable them clear their outstanding bills with the firm.
The PHED boss also said that within the three-week grace period, such customers could make a discounted payment of between 70 per cent and 80 per cent of their pending debts while the firm wrote off a graduated indebtedness of between 20 per cent and 30 per cent for its loyal customers.
According to him, the promo period was to encourage loyal customers to enjoy steady and efficient electricity supply during the Yuletide through 2022, claiming that the company was already witnessing up to 66 per cent efficiency in revenue collection.
I am a little worried here, because consumers had looked forward to an improved power supply situation based on Ajagbawa’s reported pronouncements. But we have gone past the Yuletide and into 2022 with electricity supply remaining the same, if not worse, particularly in Port Harcourt. Does this glaring duck out by PHED not constitute a deceit; more so, if the power firm still proceeds with its planned mass disconnection exercise?
Surely, after the Lagos-Ibadan axis, the CRAB zone covered by PHED ranks as the next most lucrative. Even as the international oil companies (IOCs) operating in the area are known to depend mostly on their own private power sources, the clusters of ancillary service providers that develop around these oil and gas firms guarantee steady patronage for the Port Harcourt electricity outfit.
It may also be correct to assert that within these four oil-rich states which lie in its operational territory, a number of local council areas possess the capacity to fund rural power projects as well as settle the electricity bills of their communities.
The point being made here is that whereas DisCos in certain parts of Nigeria can afford to assemble media executives and make noise about some bogus give-away only to later disappoint big time, PHED operates in a zone where it can run a more robust year-end promo for its loyal customers than what was on offer in 2021.
Early last year, the firm did embark on an extensive repair and upgrade of its grid facilities around Choba, Ozuoba, Mgbuoba, Ada-George and Rumuolumeni axis of Port Harcourt, claiming that the exercise would enhance service delivery. In fairness to PHED, there was indeed a significant improvement in power supply; but that lasted only until late September when the service began to deteriorate, before eventually returning to status quo ante.
My grouse is that the DisCos, through their umbrella body – the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), are always quick to blame debtor customers for any service lapses; yet it is these same firms that frustrate efforts to get every home metered; ostensibly because their adoption of the fraudulent estimated billing system yields stupendous revenue.
Honestly, I am very much inclined to believe that the DisCos will make more returns if they invest massively on the installation of more of the pole-mounted prepaid meters while reassigning the logistics, personnel and time spent monitoring cases of energy theft occasioned by meter bypass. They can start by insisting that no newly developed structure is connected to public power without the installation of a prepaid meter, no matter how long it takes to acquire one.
In terms of staff welfare, the recent strike by workers of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) which caused a power blackout in the nation’s capital and surrounding states did serve to further highlight the predicament of electricity workers across the country. Not only are these workers poorly remunerated, their pay packets hardly match their workload.
For example, as a resident of Rumukalagbor in 2018, I once had an issue with my pole-mounted Genus brand of prepaid meter and promptly reported the matter at the PHED office in Trans-Amadi. It shocked me silly when one of the front desk officers suggested that I return after two days as the only maintenance officer with the expertise to fix my type of meter was on field assignment to Okrika. Wait a minute! Only one such technician to service the entire Trans-Amadi and even beyond? Of course, I had to explore another means after several days of checking without success and with some senior officials beginning to advise that I revert to the post-paid system.
Lastly, being major stakeholders in the subsisting power sector arrangement, our state governments should not completely abandon us to the whims and caprices of the electricity firms. Granted that there exists a regulatory authority which ought to keep them in check, but the states surely have representatives on the boards of these firms who can, at least, insist on the investigation of some generic complaints like the estimated billing method.
On the whole, I still believe that PHED can and should perform better in 2022.

By: Ibelema Jumbo