* Fashola 
 The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has warned individuals and other cooperate organizations to desist from purchasing transformers, as only Distribution Companies (DISCOs) are authorized to buy and install transformers and other power equipment in their areas of operation.

 According to the Minister, the warning has become necessary, as government intends to totally eradicate the proliferation of fake and sub – standard transformers that come into the country without appropriate certification..

The Minister who made this known during the courtesy visit of the MD/CEO of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Mr. Ernest Mupwaya, in Abuja, further stated that most of the challenges facing the sector are not technical issues alone, but also man–made, which could be resolved at the monthly sector operators’ meeting organized by the ministry.

Addressing some of the issues raised by the AEDC, including the non – payment of electricity bills by Ministries, Extra – Ministerial Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the Minister said that government is fully committed to the payment of the back-log of bills after thorough verification to ascertain those claims before payments could be effected.

On energy conservation drive, Fashola called on Distribution Companies to focus their strengths on sensitizing consumers on the need to save energy by habitually putting off electrical gadgets and appliances, when not in use as well as improving on their customer relation and building customers’ confidence through quality service delivery strategy.

Speaking further, he said that government is fully ready to deal with vandals in the electricity sector, by imposing stringent measures which may be punitive, stressing that this will serve as deterrent to other perpetrators.

Earlier, the Managing Director, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Mr. Ernest Mupwaya, in his own words said his company is “fully committed to making their customers happy through regular supply of electricity to their homes and business places in a safe and affordable manner”, adding that the company has installed Network capacity of about 870MW above 650MW peak power received across its franchise area.   

  He further explained that over 359,969 customers had been metered out of 876,520 customers in its operation, promising that all commercial customers will be metered by December 2016, while residential customers will all be metered shortly after.