PHED Plans 22-hour Power Supply for Premium Customers from June 1

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED), has assured its premium customers of 22 hours of uninterrupted power supply daily, beginning from June 1, 2024.

The Port Harcourt Disco gave the assurance yesterday, during a town hall meeting with some customers in Port Harcourt.

The company said it had put up a bilateral arrangement whereby customers would get their supplies directly from the power generators and away from the national grid.

Acting Managing Director of PHED, Mrs Ochuko Amah, while speaking at the meeting said the arrangement was for those who have premium need for power and are ready to pay for the services, adding that the company has decided to begin with the Trans-Amadi axis of Port Harcourt.

“From 2013 till date, we’ve been hovering around 4,000 megawatts. Now what can bilateral do for you? We are going to go off the grid. We are not going to be hearing collapse of the grid anymore, it will be there but will not affect this ringed customers.

“We are looking at a situation whereby we can power, we are not looking at just Trans-Amadi and Ordinance alone but we are starting from you guys because we believe that the hub of industrialisation in Port Harcourt is around this area and these are people that we know, yearn for reliable power and are ready to pay for that reliable power,” she said.

She explained further that under the bilateral arrangement, the customers won’t be paying anything different from what Band A customers in the country are paying but however, said the customers won’t have to suffer whenever there is a fall in the national grid.

The PHED Acting MD said the arrangement has gotten the nod of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), as they are looking forward to its implementation.

“NERC is actually looking forward to see that this is a success, so I will promise you that it is not just about giving premium service, we are going to ensure that this not only enhance the lives of those  living around this area but to also improve production of companies.

“ We are going to ensure the minimum we’ll give is 22 hours, not relying on the grid but dedicated supplies from our generators.

“This idea is beautiful because you are not going to pay anything extra from what Band A customers are paying but you are getting a premium service different from what the Band A customers all over the country will be getting and even when supply fails on Band A feeders, you won’t have shortage of electricity supply,” she stated.

Making a presentation on energy efficiency, the Head, Special Projects and Business Development of PHED, Dr Edith Imaekhai, urged customers to switch to energy conserving and energy efficient  appliances to minimise energy wastage.

She also urged customers to utilise natural lights and ventilation sometimes to conserve energy and save cost, advising them to turn off sockets and other energy utilising devices when not in use.