PHED drives better customer service via Lines-men competition

In its efforts towards better customer satisfaction, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) has introduced an inter-Integrated Business Centres (IBCs), linesmen competition amongst its staff in its area of operation.
It is the first of its kind in Nigeria’s electricity industry. The integrated business centers (IBCs) are made to compete on which one worked best to satisfy its customer base, with marks awarded. At the end, prizes were given out to best performed IBCs.

During the flag-off of the competition, Jay McCoskey, the chief executive officer (CEO) of PHED, said, the purpose of the competition was to provide better customer services through the impartation of safety culture and team-spirit in the linesmen, who he said, directly interface with customers regularly.
PHED provides electricity supply to Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. The states are covered by the Distribution Company (Disco) under the 2012-2013 power privatization programme of the Federal Government, which was observed by foreign experts including the World Bank.

McCoskey stated that “The competition in itself, is to recognize our linesmen – our unsung heroes, who more times than not, work 24/7 to restore power to our customers, instead of being home with their families during normal off hours.”
The PHED boss, who spoke through the chief operating officer (COO), Kingsley Achife, an engineer, at the event, maintained that the competition has come to stay; noting that it would arouse safety consciousness in the staff, and at the same time, improve on service delivery to the customers.
He commended the staff for imbibing the culture of safety and team-spirit in the discharge of their duties; and urged them to work efficiently and effectively for the betterment of both the customers and the company.
The event was capped with cash prizes for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd positions, which were Garden City Industrial, Garden City Main and Paradise City Main. They scored 90.75, 85.75 and 59.50, respectively, out of the 10 IBCs that competed in the Low Tension Lines category.

The High Tension Lines category saw Port Harcourt Team 1 led by King Orugbani, going home with a plaque, having bagged the first position with 92.25 points. The Uyoyo- led Port Harcourt Team II came 2nd with 84.25 points, while Calabar Axis Team came 3rd with 68.25 points, bringing Uyo/Bayelsa Team to the 4th position with 65.50 marks in that order.

Responding on behalf of the recipients, King Orugbani thanked the management for organizing the competition, the first of its kind in the entire electricity industry.

He marveled at the cash prizes that were attached to the competition, and promised to improve on lessons learnt through the competition.

 

BEN EGUZOZIE