The Management of Kaduna Electric has clarified its ongoing partnership with the Kebbi state government towards the improvement of power supply to the state during the holy month of Ramadan and beyond.
A statement by the Kaduna Electric, Head, Corporate Communication, Malam Abdulazeez Abdullahi, Saturday, said Kebbi state Governor Nasir Idris, alongside some key government officials and advisers invited the management of Kaduna Electric, led by the Managing Director, Umar Abubakar Hashidu for a meeting to actualize the plan of delivering improved electricity supply to Kebbi State.
The statement said, “Despite the numerous challenges of poor generation, the Birnin Kebbi Transmission Station fire incident and the general lack of payment for the electricity consumed by customers, the management of Kaduna Electric resolved to work with the Kebbi State Government to improve power supply to the state by utilizing the Service Based Tariff (SBT) mechanism introduced by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Authority (NERC). The SBT entails the allocation of power supply to different feeder bands with corresponding tariff reclassification in accordance with the more hours of electricity supply enjoyed by customers.
“After a joint analysis of the status of electricity supply for the feeders in Birnin Kebbi, an agreement was reached to improve electricity supply from the previous average of 6 hours daily to an average of 12 hours daily, with selected feeders grouped into three categories that are allocated 16 hours, 12 hours and 8 hours on a daily basis.
“It is pertinent to note that the improvement in electricity supply was supposed to lead to a tariff increase for the customers in Birnin Kebbi in accordance with the definite hours enjoyed. However, the Governor in his magnanimity agreed to partly pay for the differential as a subsidy and support for the Ramadan period.
“As a gesture of goodwill, the Governor of Kebbi State has also settled all the outstanding debt owed Kaduna Electric for the electricity consumed by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the state, he has committed to promptly settle the monthly bills of the state government going forward and also promised to invest in power infrastructure that will improve the availability, quality and reliability of power supply that will enable industrialization and economic development in the state.”
The DisCo further said, “In a different vein, the Governor has also promised to devise strategies to engage the public, the traditional institution and other community leaders to partner with Kaduna Electric to devise effective strategies that will make the residents of Kebbi State treat the payment of their electricity bills as a civic duty that will make Kebbi State be categorized as a viable state that will encourage Kaduna Electric to sustain electricity supply to the state.
“Based on the stated facts, we wish to debunk the insinuations making rounds that Kebbi state government has paid Kaduna Electric for electricity supply in favor of individual customers during the holy month of Ramadan and therefore customers are not expected to pay for the electricity consumed during the period.
“Our esteemed customers in Kebbi State are therefore expected to promptly pay for the power they have consumed monthly as has been the case. The bills for the month of February have been distributed, and customers are expected to pay in full to avoid disconnection.
“We wish to use this opportunity to convey our profound appreciation to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kebbi State and other key government officials and advisers that have been working round the clock to ensure a harmonious working relationship with Kaduna Electric.
“We also wish the good people of Kebbi State a Ramadan full of Allah’s blessings and spiritual fulfillment.”
