By Tina Amanda
Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED) says through its improved service delivery of energy allocation across the service-based tariff, it has grown revenue above fifty (50) per cent in June 2023.
The Managing Director PHED, Dr Benson Uwheru, stated this while briefing journalists during its one-year transformational leadership celebration in Port Harcourt; it said it achieved the milestone by creating three transformation pillars for operational efficiency in serving consumers better.
He explained that technology, policy standardization and performance management were applied to enhance processes and procedures for operational efficiency.
Dr Uwheru said much work is being put around digital innovations to reduce manual processes and digitalize Discos for uninterrupted power supply.
“I want to appreciate my team for standing solely behind me this past year; no man is an island and helping us achieve uncommon results. We aim to be our chosen market’s number-one electricity distribution company.
“Customer service is a pillar for our transformation; because we have improved service delivery and energy allocation across the service-based tariff, we grew revenue significantly above fifty (50) per cent. Last month we achieved a historic revenue growth of seven (7) billion naira in revenue.
“I want to appreciate our customers, immeasurable and innumerable of our customers in the four states, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers—the results we have achieved to was made possible by the dedication and exceptional of our customers.
“We are not where we want to be or where we used to be. The little steps we took last year have seen some measurable improvement in our service delivery, especially around the liability and supply of energy across our franchise area, and we are challenged to do better.
“We created three central transformation pillars to drive our business into the foreseeable future: to aggressively grow our revenue, reduce our aggregate of technical, commercial AT&C losses and improve liquidity position.
“Last year the company was bearly generating about four points eight, four points nine billion. We want to significantly enhance our processes and procedures using technology to reduce human intervention and ensure through technology, we can ultimately have some manual processes.
“Policies have been developed to help standardize processes because policies are the guiding principles. We have ensured significant standardization and improved people and performance management.
“Our staff are our greatest assets. When I joined the company last year, we identified people’s critical role in organizational transformation. In one year, we have increased salaries by 30 per cent maximum and provided access to good medical facilities and the best of care.
“Our men in the front line, such as linesmen, DSO’s are more confident to take on risk. All the PPEs are being put in the first line of consideration; people are highly motivated and excited because there is a reward for hard work; we have also considered the inflation of subsidy removal on our people.
“We have lots of work to do in technology, customer service delivery, and we still have lots of work to do in building and empowering our people. Creating a great place to work, a place where people trust those they work for”.
Dr Uwheru also appealed to the media for its support and partnership to improve the distribution company.
“The press is a mighty organ of government and governance because it is a critical organ for accountability in measuring transparency in terms of value creation. We have achieved the results following the contribution of the press and their collaboration.
“Media members are also our customers; they have feedback regarding our service; we live for our customer’s success. We are not unmindful of the challenges facing the sector because media is the fourth estate, and you can do nothing without power.
“We seek the media support and understanding even as we assure that we will do better, and that is part of the strategy we are putting in place to ensure we upscale the quality of our service to all our customers, including the media”.
He, however, disclosed that PHED is yet to implement the new electricity tariff as the company has not received directives from the government.
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