Menu

Latest News

More metering manufacturing firms coming
Published on May 30 2019

NERC issues additional MAPs permit to more DisCos
Published on May 29 2019

EKEDC signs MOU with Meter Asset Providers
Published on May 29 2019

DISCO’s Performance Report
Published on May 03 2019

Generation Report
Published on December 19 2018

ABOUT MACARTHUR FOUNDATION

MacArthur Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, United States. The Foundation gives grants and investments to support non-profit entities in the United States and in 50 other countries. The aim of the Foundation is to support creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just verdant and peaceful world.
The Foundation presently gives grants that address the following: Electricity in Developing Countries, Girls’ Secondary Education in Developing Countries, Population & Reproductive Health, Juvenile Justice, Policy Research, Human Rights, Housing, Digital Media & Learning, Conservation & Sustainable Development, Investigative Journalism & Media, over-incarceration, global climate change and nuclear risk.

PROJECT SUMMARY

ANED was given a grant by MacArthur Foundation (located in the United States) for a project titled: Building Consumer Awareness and Strengthening the Customer Service Capacity of Electricity Distribution Companies. The project duration: January 2017 – December 2019.

ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED BY PROJECT

The project is to address the following problems in the electricity sector: 1) Lack of education of electricity consumers on their rights and of the service-delivery standards and practices in a privatized market; 2) Addressing the corrupt practices of electricity theft; 3) Preventing unsafe uses of electricity and limiting instances of exposure to dangerous electrical failed equipment; 4) Increasing rural and lifeline customer access to electricity; 5) Limited or no accountability of distribution companies for improved service delivery; 6) Limited or no engagement between rural communities/lifeline consumers and the distribution companies; and 7) Limited or poor knowledge of the challenges of the Nigerian electricity power sector by key stakeholders, influencers and decision makers, as necessary for progressive remedies for sector issues.

GOALS OF THE PROJECT

The goals/outcomes include:

• Improved service delivery to rural and lifeline electricity consumers; 2) Rural and lifeline electricity consumer population that is informed of its rights and of the service-delivery standards and practices in the newly-privatized sector 3) A reduction of electricity accidents and related fatalities; 5) Facilitation of the purchase of electricity from the Distribution Companies (DisCos); 4) Improved interaction between rural and lifeline electricity consumers and distribution companies that will result in improved communal engagement and participation in electricity supply issues; and 5) Well informed key stakeholders that will drive policy formulation, strategies and solutions for the currently ailing power sector.

BENEFICIARIES AND TARGET AUDIENCES OF THE PROJECT

The key beneficiaries of the project:

• Rural Communities
• Urban electricity consumers
• Key power sector decision makers

 

ACTIVITIES OF THE PROJECT

The activities for the project include:

• MEDIA: ANED will host or facilitate various media programs that will focus on what consumers should expect from their distribution companies (service standards, rates, supply, etc.), the avenues for redress and resolution of issues, safety issues, e.t.c. The programs will cut across the following communication platforms:
  • Radio
  • Television
  • Newspaper
  • Social Media
• ELECTRICITY CUSTOMER FORUM: ANED, in collaboration with its members will schedule and facilitate information sessions/customer forum in various rural locations. The information sessions will be structured to accomplish the following objectives – a) Dissemination of information to electricity consumers, safe use of electricity, dispute resolution mechanisms for billing issues and energy conservation.
• ELECTRICITY POLICY EDUCATION WORKSHOP: ANED will promote dialogue with key sector stakeholders, civil society bodies, consumers, influencers, recognizing that knowledge of the sector is fundamental to any effective policy formulation and/or implementation. ANED will schedule 3 workshops events that will bring all key parties together, for dialogue and understanding of the sector issues.

 

The goal of the educational activities is that the participants, provisioned with the knowledge are best equipped to formulate policies and design solutions that will result in a sustainable NESI, improved service delivery and increased electricity supply. In particular, the participants will be enriched with tools that will move the dialogue on the NESI challenges from one that is based on a, mostly, uninformed perspective to one that is more balanced and reflects proper consideration of all the issues that are, potentially, remedial for the sector.