Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has attributed the erratic electricity supply in its franchise areas to low power generation from the national grid and pleaded with customers to bear with the drop in power supply over the past weeks.
The electricity distribution company’s Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Donald Etim, in a statement issued in on Friday, apologized to customers for the power supply hitches and promised that efforts were being made by the company to boost supply.
He stated: “The AEDC wishes to inform our customers in Kogi, Niger, Nasarawa and the FCT that the current low and unstable supply of electricity to homes and businesses is as a result of low power generated to the national grid.
“In recent weeks, the level of power generated and served to the national grid for onward delivery to customers has been abysmally low.
“However, we will do our utmost at all times to ensure that we equitably distribute even that modest supply in such a way that a fair cross section of customers are served. AEDC knows full well the place and role of electricity to life, economy, and security”, Etim added.
According to him, the company is deeply committed to working collaboratively with other stakeholders within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) to identify and resolve the challenges within the sector.
Etim recalled that the Minister of Power, Mr Abubakar Aliyu had raised the issue of poor power generation at the weekly State House ministerial briefing on Thursday.
The minister said: “The erratic power supply currently being experienced in Abuja and other parts of the country is caused by low water level in the hydro power stations.
“With the reduction in water levels at the hydro power stations during the dry season, there is the need for additional load to be taken up by gas plants. The challenges in repairs currently being done on generators are responsible for the load shedding and power outages”, Aliyu added.
According to the minister, government is carrying out maintenance in the eastern axis around Odukpani leading to reduced power supply from the usually reliable Niger Delta Power Holdings Company of Nigeria (NDPHC) Calabar Power Plant.
Aliyu also hinted that there were challenges at Okoloma Gas Station linked to Afam VI power plant which had also reduced power generation to the national grid.
To address the lingering problem, the minister disclosed that government was working with the NNPC and other gas suppliers to reduce the pressure on the Western Axis.
The AEDC’s marketing chief assured: “We are aware of customers’ plight. We understand the pains of our customers who have suffered untold hardship as a result of this situation. Indeed, we empathize with them.
“We appeal to all clients to bear with us as all industry stakeholders are working tirelessly to achieve system stability and ensure availability and steady supply of electricity across AEDC franchise areas”, Etim added.
