FG threatens to sanction non-performing DISCOs

Kunle Sanni

The Federal Government has reportedly initiated plans to sanction non-performing power distribution companies.

The Chief Executives of the Abuja Energy Distribution Company (AEDC) and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) have been summoned by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, to address the declining quality of the energy supply, according to a story by ChannelsTV.

“Wilful non- performance by any DISCO could suffice as a reason for severe punishment or outright license revocation,” Adelabu was quoted as saying in a Saturday statement by his media aide, Bolaji Tunji.

He stated that Adelabu will meet with the discos the following week and that Sule Ahmed Abdulazeez, the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), has also been called due to the worsening power crisis.

The minister stated that research showed that certain distribution businesses were purposefully refusing to accept power supplies from TCN, and that vandals in the regions of Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan had also damaged some power lines.

“These two DISCOs have been summoned due to the worsening power supply situation in their regions despite improved supply from TCN.

“So, we expect power supply to have improved across the country, unlike what we are experiencing in some regions, presently. Findings revealed that some distribution companies were deliberately not taking up power supply from TCN while some power lines were also damaged by vandals in Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt and Ibadan regions,” he said.

According to the official, the government has been applying pressure on the Generating Companies (GENCOs) to enhance their performance, and in recent days, generation has increased to more than 4000MW despite the gas constraint.