An electricity Union leader in Rivers State Comrade Innocent Lord-Douglas has blamed systemic challenges across the power sector, gas supply shortage, infrastructure decay to the cause of rising costs and persistent epileptic supply in the State and Nigeria at large.
Lord-Douglas who is the Deputy General Secretary, Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) South-South/South-East, speaking in an interview with our correspondent, said that the high cost and limited gas supply have significantly affected power generation, particularly for (disco’s) independent power plant.
He maintained that he issue of epileptic power supply is due to lack of accessible gas and the rising cost of gas has made it difficult for independent power plants to operate efficiently.
“The issue of epileptic power now is because of lack of gas and unavailability of gas. Maybe because of the problem in the Middle East, the cost of gas has gone high and since the cost of gas has gone high, it has become very difficult for independent power to get gas so that has rendered most of them unworkable,” he said.
The union leader noted that Nigeria’s national grid, which was constructed over 50 years ago, is overstretched and unable to meet the demands of the country’s growing population.
“We know that the national grid is not running in full capacity because of infrastructural issues and limited transmission corridors further worsen the situation.
“With just one power corridor in many areas, any shutdown for maintenance plunges entire communities into darkness. Multiple corridors would allow for maintenance without total outages,” he said.
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On the recent efforts by the Federal Government to address the power crisis by approving the sum of N3.3 trillion naira to settle debts owed to gas suppliers and generation companies. Lord-Douglas said the move is expected to improve gas supply and boost electricity generation.
He however commended policies empowering states to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity, stressing that decentralisation would reduce pressure on the national grid and improve efficiency.
He also blamed energy theft, meter bypass, non-payment of electricity bills by consumer’s causing poor revenue generation which he described as a major issue in the sector.
“Nigeria is a gas hub, but it’s not accessible. One of the major reasons is because it is very expensive and because it’s very expensive, the generation company cannot afford. Why are they not being afforded?
They are not being afforded because the distribution companies are not paying enough of what the generation company gives to them.
“People are diverting their energy, all those who are stealing energy, they are refusing to pay. People are constantly harassing and assaulting electricity officials that goes to collect bills, he said.
He stressed that consumer’s compliant of over billing may not apply to prepaid meter users as they are charged for energy consumed, while estimated billing customers may face charges based on supply to their feeders. He urged consumer’s to get prepaid meter for effective services.
Lord-Douglas further called on state governments to establish electricity markets and enforce stricter regulations to curb energy theft and improve accountability.
