Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has urged customers to complete the Standard Transfer Specification (STS) 2.0 meter upgrade by Nov. 24 to avoid service disruption.

Rekhiat Momoh, acting chief executive officer of EKEDC, made this appeal at a customer engagement forum at the Ajah Business Unit in Lagos.

Ms Momoh, who was represented by Joseph Esenwa, chief finance officer, stressed EKEDC’s commitment to enhancing electricity supply and addressing issues like transformer failures and load shedding, with resolutions planned by the end of 2024.

The attendees of the forum were drawn from various areas within the Ajah Business Unit, including Ajah Ilaje, Oke-Ira, Addo, Sangotedo, Farapack Estate, Elemoro, Ibeju, Royal Gardens Maine and Medallion.

Others are Ajah, Okeira, Ogombo, Addo Road, Badore, Lamgbasa, Ajah-Ilaje, Lekki Scheme 2, Monastery Road, Okun Mopo, Ajiwe, Abraham Adesanya, Ajiwe, Ogombo, Urban Prime, and surrounding areas.

The token identifier is a secret code hidden in every energy token customers use on prepaid electricity meters, while STS is the global standard for the transfer of electricity and other utility prepayment tokens.

Ms Momoh, who was represented by Mr Joseph Esenwa, the company’s Chief Finance Officer, emphasised EKEDC’s commitment to improving electricity supply across its network.

Ms Momoh explained the importance of upgrading meters, as outdated ones will need replacement at the customer’s cost.

She urged customers to load previous tokens before upgrading, as old tokens would no longer function post-upgrade.

The upgrade is free, with assistance available at EKEDC offices and support staff on hand on Nov. 2 and Nov. 9.

Ms Momoh condemned the theft of infrastructure leading to outages and urged the community to combat these acts, emphasising that protecting equipment fosters socio-economic growth.

She warned against illegal connections, noting that energy theft would lead to prosecution, and encouraged reporting of suspicious activities.

On billing, Ms Momoh advocated for timely payments to ensure stable service delivery and highlighted online payment options.

Babatunde Lasaki, GM of Corporate Communication, EKEDC, reiterated the company’s zero-tolerance for illegal payments, urging customers to report unethical behaviour.

He emphasised EKEDC’s zero-tolerance policy towards illegal activities and encouraged reporting any unethical behaviour through secure channels.

Some consumers expressed what they described as frustration with the current billing system, describing it as outrageous.

One of the EKEDC’s customers, Mohammed Ali, expressed concerns about inadequate metering and the reliance on estimated billing, which they believe undermines the rationale for privatising the power sector.

To address these issues, Mr Ali suggested establishing a task force comprising EKEDC officials and security operatives to monitor power supply conditions and coordinate efforts against vandalism and energy theft.

Joseph Edenye, a resident of Destiny Homes Estate, commended EKEDC’s prompt response to faults while urging customers to support the protection of EKEDC’s facilities.

Mr Edenye appealed to EKEDC management to engage workers on training to improve services and eliminate ad-hoc workers from the system.

(NAN)