MAINTENANCE PRACTICES ADOPTED IN ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION NETWORK FOR THE REDUCTION OF ELECTRICAL POWER LOSSES IN NIGER STATE

Abstract

The study investigated the maintenance practices adopted in electrical distribution network for the reduction of electrical power losses in Niger State. two research questions guided the study while two null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted a mixed method research design. The targeted population for the study was 134 respondents. There was no sample since the population was manageable. The instrument for data collection was a 106-items questionnaire and an interview guide developed by the researcher. The questionnaire was validated by three expect. Cronbach alpha reliability method was employed to determine the internal consistency of the instrument and a reliability coefficient of 0.93 was obtained. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS. Mean and Standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while Z-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that 17 preventive maintenance practices were constantly adopted while 19 maintenance practices were occasionally adopted by engineers and technicians/technologist for the reduction of electrical energy losses in Abuja distribution network. The hypothesis tested further revealed that there is no significant difference in the mean responses of engineers and technicians/technologist on the preventive maintenance practices adopted in electrical distribution network for the reduction of electrical energy losses. It was recommended amongst others that, there should be regular training and retraining of staffs of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company AEDC Both Engineers and Technicians/Technologist on maintenance practices to be carried out to reduce losses.