Electricity has been one of the major issues for humanity. Though there are 11 electricity distribution companies in Nigeria, Eko Electricity Distribution Company stands tall amongst them. However, all of them play a greatly important role in the economy and electricity distribution of our country.
Electricity generation started in Nigeria in 1896 but the first electric utility company, known as the Nigerian Electricity Supply Company, was established in 1929. By the year 2000, a state-owned monopoly, the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), was in charge of the generation, transmission and distribution of electric power in Nigeria.
It operated as a vertical integrated utility company and had a total generation capacity of about 6, 200 MW from 2 hydro and 4 thermal power plants. This resulted in an unstable and unreliable electric power supply situation in the country with customers exposed to frequent power cuts and long periods of power outages and an industry characterised by lack of maintenance of power infrastructure, outdated power plants, low revenues, high losses, power theft and non-cost reflective tariffs.
According to reports, in the year 2001, the reform of the electricity sector began with the promulgation of the National Electric Power Policy which had as its goal the establishment of an efficient electricity market in Nigeria. It had the overall objective of transferring the ownership and management of the infrastructure and assets of the electricity industry to the private sector with the consequent creation of all the necessary structures required to form and sustain an electricity market in Nigeria.
In 2005 the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act was enacted and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) was established as an independent regulatory body for the electricity industry in Nigeria. In addition, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was formed as a transitional corporation that comprises the 18 successor companies (6 generation companies, 11 distribution companies and 1 transmission company) created from NEPA.
Eko Electricity Company is a small electricity company which covers Lagos, Ogun, and Agbara. For the ease of operations, the company is divided into three circles and ten districts.
Known for conducting its business fairly, with honesty and transparency, the company’s activities stand the test of public scrutiny.
Eko Electricity Company has striven to achieve the highest possible standards in its day-to-day work and in the quality of service they provide. It has embraced change in its distribution business and has striven to be innovative in our approaches.
One major challenge for Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), is electricity theft within its network. However, the company under its MD, Adeoye Fadeyibi has nipped this on the board.
Fadeyibi, a professional to the core, has two decades of professional experience in the Power industry. He started his career at General Electric (GE) where he held different positions from 2000 to 2013. He served as a Gas Turbines Technical Advisor and rose to the position of a Sales Director for GE Energy covering the Middle East and African Regions.
He has also provided a conducive work environment that has not only enhanced individual performance but also improved the Company’s productivity.
A graduate of Mechanical Engineering from the State University of New York, SUNY Buffalo, New York and the General Electric Power Systems University in Schenectady, New York where he completed his training in turbine power systems and applied knowledge, Fadeyibi through the help of his team, has channeled the knowledge obtained towards developing the Eko Electricity Turbines, exceptionally.
In 2013, he was appointed Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp Power Limited (TPL), Ughelli, Delta State, a 1,000MW generation Company and one of the six-generation assets of the erstwhile Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). Under his direction and a testament to his assiduous work ethics, TPL grew from 160MW of available capacity at handover (1st November 2013) to 634MW (by December 2015).
After making his mark in the Generation section, Engr. Adeoye moved downstream along the Electricity Power Sector’s value chain into the Electricity Distribution sub-sector where he assumed office as the MD/CEO of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) on 1st January 2018, a position he still retains till this date.
Through his input, the Company has been generating the highest revenue collection and lowest Aggregate, Technical, Commercial and Collection losses (ATC&C losses) since EKEDP’s inception (17% increase in collection/revenue all in the space of one year). Within the same period, resolution of customer complaints increased from 37% to 92%.
The company has warned that bypassing prepaid meters and illegal removal or relocation of meters from one location to another is wrong. This, it says, leads to inaccurate consumption of energy or damage to the meter, if caught, the customers will pay a heavy fine on this.
Also, Eko Electricity Company warned that unauthorised and illegal connection to power lines will affect the quality of electricity and this will even lead to increase in the consumption of legitimate consumers.
The company has warned that illegal connection to distribution transformers can lead to disruptions in supply, which can also create electrical hazard with potential loss of life.
Olamide Adeniji is a member of the editorial team of TheScript Newspaper
