AEDC faults engagement of uncertified electricians by electricity consumers
NAN-HE-17
Electrician
Kingsley Okoye
Abuja, March 30, 2017 (NAN) The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has advised electricity consumers under its jurisdiction to desist from using uncertified electricians to access its distribution networks.
AEDC’s Director, Risk and Compliance, Mr Collins Chabuka, made the call at a community sensitisation campaign on electricity safety in Mpape area of Abuja on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sensitisation was designed to create awareness to the residents to adopt safety measures, given the series of electrical accidents recorded in 2016.
Chabuka said a good number of the accidents recorded in 2016 was traceable to the illegal activities done on its networks by unqualified electricians.
He said that uncertified electricians were not trained to access its networks, given its technical nature.
“The message is to avoid using the illegal electricians called NEPA two; they are responsible for the problem; they are not trained and certified to do the job.
He called on consumers to employ the services of electricians certified by the Nigeria Electricity Management Safety Agency (NEMSA) or AEDC officials.
He said it was also wrong for people to build shops and do business around AEDC networks, given the volatile nature of electrical installations.
Chabuka also advised the consumers in the area against vandalism of AEDC installations, noting that it would result in the loss of electricity supply and expose the people to risk of electrical accident.
On electricity theft and illegal connection, he said AEDC would prosecute any culprit illegally connecting to its network.
Chabuka advised residents of the area to report any issue of concern through the AEDC complaint lines or the company’s office in the area, noting that it would resolve the complaints.
He said that AEDC was also in the process of installing pre-paid meters to customers in the area, adding that the meters were usually freely installed .
Responding, the District Head of Mpape, Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim, said that the community would continue to support AEDC to improve electricity supply to residents of the area.
He said the people were ready to comply with the payment of electricity bills, if supply was made available.
He urged AEDC to intensify its efforts at metering customers in the district, noting that estimated billing without commensurate electricity supply was a major challenge to the community.
NAN also reports that high point of the campaign was the introduction of some electricity safety tips by AEDC officials.
The tips include: “Never touch fallen lines, Stay clear and report to AEDC, do not attempt to trim or cut any tree touching power lines to avoid electrocution, contact AEDC.”
Others are “Do not touch or unplug household appliances during over voltage surge to avoid electric shock; always ensure proper wring of your building to avoid electric shock; be safety conscious, and stay away from naked wires”. (NAN)
KC/IA
Edited by Idris Abdulrahman