APL Says It Will Not Relent In Providing Quality Service Delivery To Aba Residents

APLE, a fully privately owned and independent electricity distribution company, has made remarkable progress within two years of its operation.

In a media parley at its power station in Aba, the Managing Director, APLE, Barr. Ugo Opiegbe, said Aba Power is committed to render top-notch services to its customers, from prioritizing reliable and affordable power supply to maintaining  lowest tariffs within their service area.

Opiegbe disclosed that while other DisCos implemented upward tariff adjustments as far back as April 2024, Aba Power kept its rates unchanged for over eight months, maintaining the lowest tariffs within their service area. This decision Opiegbe said, underscores their commitment to shielding their customers from the full brunt of economic pressures for as long as possible.

Meanwhile, the MD disclosed that  because customers satisfaction remains their priority, the APL decided to conduct a media parley to inform the public on the APLE’s Tariff adjustment. He hinted that in line with the regulatory framework established by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Aba Power received the order for tariff adjustment on December 30, 2024, with an effective date of January 1, 2025.

He said the adjustment for various customer classes reflects the current macroeconomic realities affecting the entire power sector.

The MD stated that prior to the adjustment, the Power station had called for a three day customer engagement across the ring-fence to discuss the subject. He said the engagement was widely publicized through radio announcements, social media platforms, and newspaper publications, demonstrating their commitment to run open and transparent communication with customers.

He argued that unlike legacy distribution companies (DisCos), Aba Power does not receive any government subsidies or interventions,as a result, the tariff they charge is entirely cost-reflective and directly linked to the actual costs of power generation, distribution and other operational expenses.

Opiegbe, however, noted that APLE would not hesitate to share updates on key development, so as to keep customers abreast with tariff plans.

According to him, APL had attempted to grapple with the economic reforms by the newly sworn in FGN at the time, to see how much gains the reforms could introduce, but apparently, he said the reforms have continued to date and they  could no longer withstand the impacts.

“As a 100% privately owned DisCo, Aba Power operates independently without access to government subsidies. This means our operations are fully funded through the revenue we generate, making our tariff a true reflection of economic realities. We bear the entire cost of power procurement, operational expenses and our financial obligations. However, like many of you, we are also victims of the current economic reforms, and we empathize with the financial challenges being faced by our esteemed customers”, he explained.

Barr. Ugo Opiegbe further stated that their power facility is running a concurrent meeting initiatives- the Meter Asset Provider(MAP) scheme and the Mass Metering Program, to ensure transparency in energy consumption and billing. He added that customers who prefer not to wait for mass metering could take advantage of the MAP scheme to get metered quickly, disclosing that prepaid meters are available and customers can apply by visiting their website or any of their offices closest to them.

The MD Aba Power, equally announced that APLE as part of efforts to accelerate their metering initiatives, would take delivery of over forty thousand meters in the first quarter of this year. This initiative reflects the company’s commitment to providing accurate billing and empowering its customers with control over their electricity usage.

He further noted that the tariff adjustment reflects the realities of operating in an economy where inflation, foreign exchange rates and operational costs are on the rise, but pledged to remain steadfast in delivering reliable, affordable and sustainable power supply to all their customers. He, however, encouraged their customers to reach out to them through their offices or website for inquiries about metering, service improvements or any other concerns, as their satisfaction remains top priority.

Opiegbe equally disclosed that vandalism and energy theft have become a growing concern in their power infrastructure, calling on the State government to help initiate policies to clamp down activities of vandals who destroy their transformers,cables and other electricity assets. He said instituting a Mobile court could go a long way in nipping the bud the challenge.

 He said already the Aba Power is delivering optimally, as customers in different fora have commended the constant power supply, but lamented how vandals are taking turns on their facilities, appealing for government to intervene.

Contributing the Head, Branding and Communications, Aba Power, Mr Edise Ekong, appealed to the media to help disseminate accurate information about the power station and also inform the public on the positive strides of Aba Power. He also issued a strong warning against the vandalization of their transformers and other power assets.

The Head, Legal and Regulatory Compliance, Aba Power, Charles Torti, revealed that since two years of its operation, Aba Power, has not incurred any sanctions from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, (NERC), especially as it concerns Capping, stating that most DisCos in the country, have been fined billions of naira for infringement but APL has been transparent in their operations. He attributed the success to the model put in place in APL.