KEDCO@6: MAKING DEVELOPMENTAL STRIDES IN MAJESTIC STYLE
By Ibrahim Sani Shawai
Development, innovation, expansion and improvement are sacrosanct to any company that seeks relevance in the future to make long lasting impacts in their environments as well as the people in such environments. The unhidden public admiration for Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) is based on the impact that it has made in ensuring that service delivery is innovatively delivered in manners that x-ray maximum satisfaction for all stakeholders in the power sector within KEDCO franchise areas.
Before we reel out some of the majestic achievements of KEDCO, let’s have a brief background.
Kano Electricity Distribution Company Plc is one of the successor companies created following the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and it’s responsible for distributing electricity in the North western states of Nigeria (Kano, Katsina and Jigawa) The KEDCO customer base of 19,563,874 makes it the largest Disco in Nigeria by population size.
KEDCO being the delight in power distribution in Nigeria has invested so much in human resources as well as contributed immensely to the efforts of governments at all levels in addressing the challenge of youth unemployment. Unarguably, the greatest investment in life is measured by the impact such investment has on humans and its environment.
KEDCO has on routine basis given series of training to its staff with a view to making them geniuses in their respective professions as KEDCO staff and that has in more ways than one contributed to the massive image rebranding strategies of the company. As Dr Jamil Isyaku Gwamna, the Managing Director of KEDCO once said: “ Any investment in training personnel is an investment for organization growth because as the training enhances the capacity and competence levels of the staff, they will have no problems with the ‘what, how, why and when’ of doing their jobs and that promotes efficiency and effectiveness.’’ Aside this revolution in staff capacity building to arm them for the future, KEDCO also recruited over 2,500 staff with diverse skills and experience to deliver KEDCO’s service promise. The recruitment has an economic chain reaction that is estimated to assist over 10, 000 individuals.
Another milestone achievement that has set KEDCO on a path that challenges the future is the massive infrastructural and overwhelming expansionary revolution in network. In that regard, KEDCO has invested over N5.1 billion in network, metering and improving work environment. All this is to ensure that our numerous customers get satisfaction in a manner that befits their demand. Power is vital in any economy that hopes to grow its manufacturing sector as well as other sectors for the wellbeing of the people. Mindful of this, KEDCO embarked on unrepentant acquisition and repair of equipment. Today, several hundreds of transformers and operational vehicles have been bought to show how seriously KEDCO feels about the need for up-grade to meet up with future demands.
As it is now in KEDCO, I can tell you that we are already living in the future. This is why the percentage of grid energy received from less than 4% of total national generation was jerked up to the current average of 7% with over 200,000KVA new distribution capacity added by installing new distribution transformers. Also over 300 kilometres of new distribution lines were added to KEDCO network. While mapping of 33KV lines, 11KV lines and Distribution Transformers in collaboration with World Bank using GIS to aid planning has also been done. The procurement of working tools, operational vehicles and entire office refurbishment geared towards improved service delivery are deliberate acts that KEDCO is not willing to negotiate.
The most important philosophy that drives the jet of KEDCO is the fact that our customers over the years have remained our target for satisfaction and maximum service delivery and we have proven that, on several occasions. Matching actions with words, the company went on restructuring spree from regional levels to miniature levels where the customers can be easily reached which has resulted to the over 180 Customer Service Points that now exist for enhanced coverage, energy accountability, reliability and customer intimacy.
There was also an upgrading of the ICT Data Centre providing 24hrs online real-time vending services as well as opening of 174 cash offices and integrating them with the billing system. The quest to minimize customers’ complaints saw KEDCO launching the Operations Process Monitoring Business Intelligence for effective resolution of Customer Complaints, Fault Clearance and monitoring of staff performance in relation to their service to customers.
The audacious reforms of the power sector by KEDCO for the purpose of resuscitating the manufacturing sector and enhancing their capacities to not only grow the economies of our franchise areas but providing employments for youths and shooting down the negative statistics of unemployment have been getting more attention as KEDCO within the years under review built dedicated industrial feeders to encourage re-industrialization of KEDCO franchise areas. We believe that the government is doing its best and the only way to ensure such effort was sustained is to do the needful which remained our reason for building the industrial feeders to bring down the cost of production which many companies have identified as a major challenge.
Penning down our achievements from last year will take more than an article, hence a pause will be taken here as our successes have over time grew like wildfire in the harmattan. In all, we are convince just as our numerous customers are, that KEDCO will wax stronger to meet more good feats and achieve better results that are yet to be seen.
There is no doubt that KEDCO has great potential for growth, opportunities and success in view of its large customer population and for reconfiguration of the power distribution to a radial network, to improve efficient energy delivery. Closing the ‘metering gap’ through KEDCO Meter Asset Providers metering, investments in additional lines to de-load feeders as well as new transformers at load points are key for KEDCO to in its quest to push for more progress. Also, it is needful for an increase payment channels options to cater for KEDCO’s diverse customer base and improve revenue collections. The deployment of a robust enterprise platform, consisting of finance, billing, customer relation, HR and energy accounting and audit modules and the Automation of processes – Commercial Management System, SCADA, Incidents Reporting and Management System, Works Management System, Automatic Meter Reading for MD Customers. Furthermore, the Distribution Transformer Metering for energy accountability and strategic Partnerships – embedded power generation, franchising should be sought.
As it stands, KEDCO is ready to calibrate more platforms to have sustained, accelerated and increased achievements in every facet of its operations and dealings. Happy 6th Anniversary, KEDCO cares.
Ibrahim Sani Shawai
Head, Corporate Communications, KEDCO.
