The Permanent Secretary (Power) in the Ministry of Power, Housing and Works, Mr Louis Edozien disclosed this on Monday at 3rd National Council on Power (NACOP) with the theme “Complete Power Sector Reform” held in Jos Plateau State.
Mr Edozien stated that government has also audited the N27 billion debts owned by Federal Government ministries, departments and agencies to the distribution companies and also taking steps to pay them.
On low tariff, the permanent secretary pointed out that some consumers don’t pay their bill mostly because the distribution companies have not metered them adding that many are not sure they are paying for only what they have consumed while NBET in turn defaults in payment to the generation companies.
He equally mentioned that how to deliver available power on the grid to consumers also form part of the problems confronting the sector.
“Today, there are about 750 33KV trading points, from where electricity available on the national grid is received by the distribution companies for onward delivery to households, businesses, Government offices and industries that consume it. Generation companies and Transmission Company of Nigeria can deliver well over 6,600 MW at these trading points. But consumers are enjoying less than 4, 600 MW” he said.
The Permanent Secretary also pointed out that services have been restored to Jos, Plateau State after a fire destroyed 150 MVA transformer at Jos substation last week adding that the destroyed 150 MVA transformer was transmission capacity that was no being used to deliver 4,600MV to consumers.
According to him, NACOP 2017 was a forum to assess the progress, reaffirm the ministry the commitment, examine challenges of the moment and take decisions to overcome them.
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