Aba Power to boost network with extra 100 new transformers

The management of Aba Power Limited (APL), a distribution company says it has procured 100 new transformers to upgrade its network for more reliable services. The APL Chief Commercial Officer, Mr Blessing Ogbe, said this on Thursday at a news conference in Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia. He said the distribution company would use the 100 new transformers to relieve overloaded old ones and reduce customers’ supply problems. Ogbe said that APL would also infuse over 20, 000 free meters into its network to assist customers in managing their electricity billings and ease payments. “We are poised to give the best service available in the power sector as a matter of the company’s priority to Aba,” he said. Earlier, Prof Barth Nnaji, the company Chairman, said that it would do everything to ensure Aba residents did not regret having the services of the company. He said that the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) had made operations hard for APL with its increment of power supply tariff rates from N21.00 to N61.00 in less than a year. He regretted that the NDPHC had reduced the power supplied to Aba to 25 megawatts, thereby, causing power cuts to feeders in the area, an option which the customers did not want. “The company is fighting hard to survive the harsh operational challenges it faced from inception including buying power at N61.00 from NDPHC and selling at under N40.00. “This is so because the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has insisted on capping billings for customers who do not have prepaid meters. “I call on residents and customers not to join sadists who have no good plans for the people of the South-East to hurt the DisCo which has come to advance your progress,” Nnaji said. Nnaji added that the planned protests against the company by some faceless persons was not necessary because the company’s generation arm was working hard to start power generation. He assured that this would end power cuts in Aba area. (NAN)