Ikeja Electric Distribution Company arguably has the largest power distribution network in Nigeria. It serves over 700,000 registered customers within the Mainland of Lagos State and some parts of Ogun state.
The Distribution company has powered businesses through its commitment to innovation and an unwavering drive for excellence. The Company was officially handed over to New Electricity Distribution Company (NEDC), the preferred bidders on November 1, 2013 by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) as part of the Federal Government’s power sector privatization program. In 2015, the company changed its name from Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) to Ikeja Electric PLC (IE) in line with the organization’s commitment to create a more dynamic, easily identifiable and vibrant identity. In spite of the challenging operating and economic environment IE operates within, IE has steadily progressed in its vision of “Bringing energy to life” through strategic human, material, technology and financial investments towards improving the efficiency and effectiveness in the distribution of power to its customers. As part of its continuous efforts in ensuring that the assets, operations and relationships of the organization are satisfactorily and responsibly managed, through adherence to international best practices, Ikeja Electric Plc has been operating on a ‘Customer-Centricity’ policy.
The consortium has the Korean Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) which generates about 84,000MW in capacity and has a global efficiency record of a maximum down time period of slightly above three minutes annually as technical partners.
This partnership has positioned IE to effectively drive its commitment to deliver efficient and sustainable power supply through investments in new technology, infrastructure upgrade and human capital development.
Ikeja Electric has over 1,000,000 customers who the company is committed to serve with a New Spirit, New Drive and New Energy. This resolve continues to elicit a passion for service excellence and new thinking on how to empower lives and businesses across the IE network.
Its Strategic Risk Management policy; Regulatory Management; Business and Governance Management; Social Relations Management; Technology Advancement and Investment in the Future has been top- notch. Recently, Ikeja Electric Plc (IE), announced the introduction of Singleview, an interactive platform designed to enable prepaid meter customers to access their vending pattern and consumption.
It launched the Singleview at its headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos on Friday, October 8, 2021. Ikeja Electric explained that the platform serves as a major touch point where prepaid meter customers can access personal information such as energy vending record, consumption history, month-on-month energy consumption, account number, account status, tariff class and rates.
The Singleview platform also enables customers to make energy payments, check energy consumption and balance, lodge service enquiries, requests or complaints and the Business Unit and Undertaking Office covering their location will respond promptly.
Headed by a proactive Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Folake Soetan, Ikeja Electricity Company’s customer centric policies, has made it forward thinking, innovative and committed to its customers in order to enhance their experience.
Folake Soetan took over from her predecessor, Dr. Anthony Youdeowei. She is enhancing Youdeowei’s legacies, including some of the ongoing Ikeja Electric transformation initiatives that has resulted in one of the most aggressive loss reduction recorded in the sector.
Soetab served as the Chief Operating Officer of Ikeja Electric. During this period, she and her team introduced several initiatives that engendered the improvement of the quality of power supply in the Ikeja franchise areas.
Records have it that she has experience in operational leadership and brings extensive experience to the role, having held senior leadership positions in the Aviation, Oil & Gas and Power sectors over the last two decades.
She holds a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Lagos and is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School where she earned certification in Advance Management.
A focused and result-oriented professional, Soetan has led this undeniably customer-committed phase of growth at IE Plc.
She has ensured Ikeja Electric remains a “customer first, technology now” organization, through reliable power supply, improved customer service and tech-driven innovative products and services.
Under her leadership, the singleview platform will enable customers to access the necessary information with ease. With the ability to track and understand their consumption and vending patterns, they are able to plan their energy needs efficiently.
A re-conductoring of 132KV lines embarked upon by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), aimed at expanding the capacity to wheel more power is also underway within its jurisdiction.
The upgrade by the TCN couldn’t have come at a better time as the capacity of most of the 132KV lines have become limited due to time and usage culminating in inability to operate at full capacity.
Undoubtedly, Ikeja Electric Company is sustained by a mission to redefine customer experience and be the provider of choice wherever energy is consumed in Nigeria.
Its persistent drive to satisfy its customers and enhance their experience led Ikeja Electric Distribution Company to upgrade its IE Mobile App to include cutting-edge features that enable customers to access services with ease.
The upgraded app is a multi-functional app designed to allow customers to make enquiries, check and pay bills, report/resolve complaints, and promptly contact customer care representatives. It also offers live chat and account management functions.
The upgraded IE Mobile App comes with numerous functionalities that offer secured transactions, prompt services and unique user-experience. It is a mobile app positioned as a one-stop shop for customers to interact with Ikeja Electric for prompt responses. These are evidence of Ikeja Electric Plc customer-centric drive.
Olamide Adeniji is a member of the editorial team of TheScript Newspaper.
