Kano DisCo Records 80% Billing Efficiency In 6 Months

Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has announced an 80 per cent billing efficiency in June 2024, five per cent increase from 75 per cent recorded by the DisCo in January 2024.

KEDCO also disclosed making financial progress following sustainable interventions to drive efficiency across its network.

Head, Corporate Communications of the DisCo, Sani Bala Sani, also added that the company also recorded significant performance improvement and reduction in Aggregate Technical, Commercial, and Collection losses (ATC&C) by almost 20 percentage points to a record of 42 per cent.

The DisCo recorded the performance improvements under the ongoing initiative since its acquisition by a new core investor.

It would be recalled that Future Energies Africa (FEA) in November 2023 acquired the majority stake in KEDCO and has since embarked on reforms geared towards business turnaround and sustainable transformation of the power distribution company.

Currently, about 52 feeders receive between 20 to 24 hours of power supply (including 11 recently upgraded) through investments and improved service delivery.

“These achievements are not merely coincidental but conscious efforts by KEDCO’s Board and Management, with ample support from the core investor, Future Energies Africa through investment efforts and constant adoption of effective mechanisms to expeditiously address extant challenges towards making KEDCO financially self-sufficient,” said Sani.

He highlighted a prominent among the recent challenges as overcoming the dispute with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) over the April 2024 supplementary tariff order, which has now been resolved.

KEDCO also advocated a round-table reconciliation channel while also reaffirming its continuous support for the prosperity of businesses and economic activities in the area.

The DisCo also recently revamped its top management with the addition of a new Chief Technical Officer, Engr. Kassim Burkullu, who recently managed Abuja Electricity Distribution Company’s (AEDC) large network.

Similarly, the firm also brought in a new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Dr. Abubakar Jimeta, a seasoned industry professional, and injected two Special Directorates for Special Projects and Customer Solutions, manned by Engineers Inuwa Daneji and Shuaibu Adeiza, respectively.

During this period, the company also invested over ₦1bn to deploy over 100 High Voltage smart Maximum Demand (MD) meters.
Also, it deployed over 3,000 prepayment meters on Band A feeders, through MAP vendor financing, all geared towards mitigating billing and commercial losses.

Similarly, check meters have been installed on all major commercial feeders with high losses and bifurcation of those feeders, for improved power distribution, efficiency, and energy accountability which has led to a significant reduction in losses and improved collection efficiencies.

In the area of network reliability, KEDCO management has initiated expansion efforts in a bid to foster efficiency in service delivery and meet service-level agreement commitments.

KEDCO’s projection is to achieve 25 percent ATC&C losses by year-end while meeting 100 percent market obligations as the NESI transitions to a Bilateral trading market.

The company’s management has been tasked with turning the business around and are working round the clock to continue driving improvements.

The Acting Managing Director, Abubakar Yusuf stated that, “At all levels, we have prioritised collaboration, partnership, and regular stakeholders’ engagements within the government, traditional, security, political, religious, and community partners to drive progress.”

He noted that, “If KEDCO succeeds, our communities succeed. So, it has to be a team effort.”