Abuja Disco Leverages Mini-grids to Reach Underserved Customers

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and its partners have launched a 352.24kWp interconnected mini-grids scheme in Toto community, Nasarawa State, in its latest efforts to reach unserved and underserved locations in its franchise areas.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director/CEO of the Electricity Distribution Company (Disco), Mr. Christopher Ezeafulukwe, noted that the deployment of interconnected mini-grids will help boost economic activities for the beneficiaries.

Ezeafulukwe said the successful execution of the project by the AEDC, in collaboration with PowerGen Nigeria Limited and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), was part of plans to optimise renewable energy to complement its grid capacity.

Represented by the Head, Regulatory and Government Relations, Olajumoke Delano, he disclosed that the project, which was initiated by the company in 2020, was to explore innovative ways to better serve AEDC’s customers.

“The choice of Toto community in Nasarawa State for the pilot project was not difficult for us and our partners to make, given the economic potential of the community, which had been underserved.

“This model will help deal with the challenges posed by the undeniable fact that macro-economic realities of today make it commercially unviable for Discos to serve some locations within their coverage areas under the current grid arrangement.

“So, AEDC will leverage this success to forge stronger partnerships and collaboration that would see us execute more of this type of projects,” he explained.

With the launch of the project, he explained that the economic development of Toto had already begun, as greater access to reliable electricity will pave the way for new businesses to thrive, and for existing ones to expand.

“About 2,000 connections are targeted under this project. The socio-economic impact on the community will be exponential in the months and years ahead,” he explained.

He charged the leadership and members of Toto community to ensure that actions that are inimical to the continued provision of electricity supply to their community through the project, were completely prevented.

“They include vandalism, theft of energy and infrastructure, non-payment of bills, hostility and other acts of sabotage,” he added.

Speaking on his experience, one of the beneficiaries, Mr. Abubakar Nasir, a sachet water producer, said the power supply from the project had reduced his energy cost by over 70 per cent.

He therefore urged the Federal Government and the AEDC to replicate the project across communities in the area, to cut the massive spending on other more expensive sources of energy.