The Federal Government may have backtracked on the sack of electricity distribution companies (Discos) as it plans to bring on board additional ones to improve electricity supply across the country.
The government also expressed satisfaction with the performance of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) which has metered about 65 per cent of its customers and urged other Discos to emulate it.
The Minister of State for Power, Mr Goddy Jedy Agba, who disclosed this when he visited AEDC corporate office on Friday in Abuja, said the government was not thinking of dismantling the distribution companies (Discos) on the grounds of poor performance but to add to the existing ones for operational efficiency.
According to him, his visit to AEDC is part of the engagement process to understand the operations and challenges of the Discos as well as seek ways to improve their operations.
The Managing Director of AEDC, Mr Ernest Mupwaya, said the firm tabled the problem of Customs duty on imported meters in order to meet its customers’ demand and that it received a favourable response.
“One of the issues we brought to the minister’s notice is that issue of Customs Duty for meters so that we can meet our customers.
“I am glad to inform you that the government is waiting now to resolve this issue so that meters can be available,” Mupwaya said.
He said the company has the capacity of installing 3,000 meters daily but it is constrained because thousands of meters are stuck at the ports because of import duty.
“I believe the government is working actively to resolve the issue in the bid to support the firm’s operations.’’
On the debts owed by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government, the AEDC boss said the issue has also been brought to the attention of the minister.
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