The Port Harcourt Electricity Company (PHED) over the weekend said arrangements have been concluded to install 120,000 smart meters for customers within Calabar and its environs.
PHED is the power distribution company serving some 14 million electricity consumers in four states. They include Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Bayelsa.
The management of the company also said it has entered into a bilateral agreement with the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) aimed at taking power supply in the state to the next level. In a press statement issued in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, the management said this is principally aimed at meeting the demands of customers.
By this development, PHED is collaborating with NDPHC to supply 100MW of excess power from Odukpani Power Plant to Calabar metropolis exclusively. Network optimisation will be carried out in order to rehabilitate the network and increase the network capacity to ensure it can meet 24/7 supply to Calabar,” it said.
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The projects have already begun and one has been completed, which is the construction of one unit of 15MVA ( 1×15 MVA) at Adiabo in Odukpani local government.
PHED is also to construct a substation at Akpabuyo local government,all aimed at showing commitment to resolving the community’s electricity issues.
The statement added that this was also part of PHED flag off the awareness campaign on the new development.
Managing director/CEO of PHED, Henry Ajabhawa, who was represented by the chief commercial officer, Solomon Okopi, appealed to customers and stakeholders to see this move as a vital scheme to boost electricity supply in its four franchise states.
He also appealed to customers to pay their bill or recharge their pre-paid meters at the right time to enable the Disco to serve them better. The MD/CEO also reiterated his appeal for support against energy theft and acts of vandalism or attacks of PHED personnel on legitimate assignments.
