Design And Implementation Of A Computerised Rural Electrification Information System

1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The ultimate aim of manufacturers is to produce goods they can sell to users immediately at a profit. An interaction between the producer and the consumer tales place. This interaction is initiated, developed, and managed by producer’s marketing staff. The business function of power marketing is concerned with the planning, and billing of existing products in the existing markets and development of new products and new markets to better serve present and potential customers.
Today PHCN performs a vital function in the operation of a business enterprises. Detection and billing of power has become a much difficult assignment because of the dynamic environment of today’s activities which includes:
– Rapidly changing market demands
– Steadily increasing consumers pressure
Firms have increasingly turned to the computer to help them perform the vital functions in the face of the rapid changes of today’s environment. Computer, therefore, because of its speed, memory capacity, versatility and accuracy, has been the catalyst in the development of rural electrification information system, which integrate the information flow required for an improved activities. Computer is also used to make business decision involving millions of naira and so saves man from a tremendous amount of time consuming work.
Today computer is used as a control system for controlling electricity distribution and management, diagnosis of faulty performance. Nevertheless, computer is also used as research system for detecting dangerous zones.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The difficulties staff of PHCN usually face in the Local Government Area made me to realize that (computer aid) a rural electrification information system is the best that can happen to the staff and people of Enugu South L.G.A. This will save the PHCN officers the embarrassment caused by customers’ complaints at the end of the working day.

It was in the view of this that Sundison (1994) pointed out that “ for effective rural electrification more sophisticated system should be introduced in the business”

1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The original purpose of this study is to design and implement a computerized rural electrification information system in Enugu South L.G.A. Its purpose are to have the following:
(i) Efficient and safe storage
(ii) Quick retrieval of records and information
(iii) Proper accounting and file keeping
(iv) Quick response to any adhoc enquires
(v) Assist in Fault recording

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
It is hoped that the result of this study will serve as tools for helping PHCN officers and consumers who wish to know the situation of their electrification system. This is easy to achieve since standard and tested computer programs handle all sort of complex calculations, storage and retrieval of valuable information needed.
Also, important is the fact that records prepared with electronic machine can be stored as long as needed in non-bulky and compact systems.
Works has been done in many areas of computerization, in industry and commerce but not much has been done in rural electrification projects. We have therefore done this work to highlight the use of an online in the important area of power services.

1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This work is confined to the Rural Electrification information system of Enugu South that is our area of research work. This was done to attain a standard output that will be useful to both the consumers as well as the staff of PHCN. It also helps in making a quick, accurate, efficient and reliable data processing.