Stop Discouraging Manufacturers From Paying Approved Electricity Tariff, KEDCO Tells MAN
Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has accused the Kano State branch of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) of misleading its members and the public despite receiving over ₦3bn in electricity tariff discounts within the past year.
The company also expressed dismay at what it described as “consistent antagonism” from the Kano branch of MAN, even though industrial customers in the state have enjoyed sustained power supply and exclusive tariff reliefs.
According to KEDCO, the discount scheme introduced in May 2024 to ease manufacturers into new market realities has cost the utility about N3bn, with dedicated feeders such as 33kV Dangote, 33kV Dr. Jamil, 33kV Flour Mills, and 33kV Coca-Cola benefiting from the intervention.
KEDCO, in a statement obtained by THE WHISTLER on Tuesday and e-signed by its Head of Corporate Communication, Sani Bala Sani, accused Kano MAN of
previously discouraging members from paying regulatory-approved tariffs and even dragged the company to court, only to lose the case.
It added that attempts to get Kano MAN to collaborate on anti-theft campaigns failed.
The DisCo alleged that while the discounts were offered through Kano MAN, the association never communicated the initiative to its national body nor publicly acknowledged the support.
The company maintained that its maximum demand industrial customers currently enjoy an average of 20 hours of electricity daily, with 95 per cent service compliance, placing KEDCO among the top-performing distribution companies nationwide.
It further urged the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) to align its engagements with market realities while declaring that future support to manufacturers would be offered directly to willing customers rather than through MAN.
The statement reads in part, “The Kano Electricity Distribution Plc (KEDCO) has expressed disappointment over the consistent
antagonism from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Kano Branch, despite sustained
efforts to provide them with a stable power supply and exclusive discounts to the tune of N3bn over
the past 12 months.
“It should be noted that we have transitioned the majority of our industrial and manufacturing partnerships and schemes away from being granted through MAN over the past 12 months, and the statement attributed to MAN that they will receive direct supply from NDPHC will not significantly impact our commercial operations (if it were possible under current regulations and technical
realities).
“It would be recalled that MAN Kano, last year, discouraged its members from paying the regulatory-
approved tariffs and dragged KEDCO to court. The outcome of the court case was unsuccessful for MAN.
“Despite the rancour and huge losses accrued due to customer apathy, KEDCO, through MAN Kano, offers exclusive discounts in the form of a discounted transition tariff to support manufacturers and allow them to adjust to the new market realities in a structured manner.
“Since launching the
The programme in May 2024 has amounted to a cumulative cost of N3bn to KEDCO. We do not regret this as we view our industrial and manufacturing customers as the most important customer group, as they provide jobs and economic output.
“Despite extending these discounts to key feeders, including 33kV Dangote, 33kV Dr. Jamil, and 33kV Flour
Mills and 33kV Coca-Cola, all serving predominantly MAN members, KEDCO was still experiencing billing losses of ₦2.5 bn per month on average on feeders assigned to Maximum Demand Industrial (MDI) customers due to energy theft.
“Attempts to have MAN Kano support an aggressive stance
against members and partners on an energy theft reduction programme proved unsuccessful.
“KEDCO maintains its readiness to extend a supportive hand to its willing customers on a bilateral basis and will no longer offer support through MAN, as they have repeatedly failed to rise to expectations.”
Stop Discouraging Manufacturers From Paying Approved Electricity Tariff, KEDCO Tells MAN is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
