Kano DisCo: Critical network upgrades have led to reduction in power supply

The Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) says power supply to customers under its coverage has reduced due to “critical network upgrades”.

KEDCO announced while denying claims that customers receive two hours of daily electricity supply.

On April 22, reports had suggested that electricity consumers in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states have been undergoing hardship due to power outages by KEDCO.

In a statement on Wednesday, the management of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) said such claims are misleading, exaggerated, and do not reflect the current reality on the ground.

“It is inaccurate to claim that customers in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa have only been getting 2 hours of supply daily. 2 hours of supply would mean 1/12 of our supply. If the claim were true, the network would only be getting between 0.4 GWh to 0.56 GWh,” KEDCO said.

“However, from daily tracking available to the market, KEDCO experienced between 3.9GWh to 4.7GWh over the past 5 days, which is about a 20 to 30% reduction in supply (as opposed to 5 to 7GWh per day prior to the reduction).

“This is as a result of critical upgrades being executed on the network to allow for increased energy to our band B, C, and D customers, as contained in a statement released on Saturday, 18th April.”

‘POWER SUPPLY DROPPED FROM 14.44 HOURS TO 9.40 HOURS’

KEDCO said it has made significant progress in improving its power supply, as evidenced by the average daily supply available in its dispatch records, however, it indicated the power supply has dropped between March and April.

Citing an instance, the DisCo said in March, most of its customers across the bands enjoyed an average of 14.44 hours of power supply daily, while from April 1 to April 17, “we dispatched a daily average of 9.40 hours of power supply across the majority of our residential/urban feeders”.

“It should be noted that in March, due to improved performance, daily averages went up to 6 to 7GWh to accommodate the Ramadan period and increased demand. The improvements currently being made to the network will support sustained improved performance,” KEDCO said.

“Even with the reduction in supply over the last 5 days, KEDCO is maintaining full supply to its critical feeders serving utilities, social service providers, and businesses in line with our socio-economic development vision.

“Equally, as the network upgrade and maintenance exercise is being completed, most customers have begun to witness significant improvement in power supply.”

Acknowledging the frustration of its customers during periods of reduced supply, KEDCO said it has “consistently maintained an average daily supply significantly higher than the alleged two hours, depending on the location and nature of the outage”.