Power: BEDC Urged to Meter Ekiti Customers

 

Ekiti State Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Prof Mobolaji Aluko has urged the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to provide meters to all households in the state for greater transparency and accountability, as well as good service delivery.

 

Prof. Aluko who made the call in Ado Ekiti at a meeting with the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Mr. Deolu Ijose, stressed that metering of households would enhance transparency and redeem the negative image that electricity distribution companies inherited from the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). 

 

The meeting followed immediately after Governor Biodun Oyebanji's meeting with the BEDC CEO on the same day.

 

Aluko emphasized that meters would guarantee that customers only pay for what they use and would save them the embarrassment of being unduly and randomly disconnected, adding that it would also curtail wastage.

 

The Commissioner solicited the collaboration of BEDC in the distribution of electricity that would be generated through the State Independent Power Plant (IPP), noting that using the company’s overhead electricity lines as against using underground cable would assist in ensuring optimum distribution of the 5-megawatt expected output of the power Plant.

 

Recalling that the IPP project was flagged off during Governor Kayode Fayemi’s administration to put an end to sole- dependence on National Grid, especially in all Government institutions, Aluko said that the IPP would be extended to willing individuals or corporate organizations who are ready to pay for the service.

 

Responding, the MD/CEO of BEDC, Deolu Ijose, who sought the support of Government towards addressing the issues of vandalisation of the company’s assets, said that there would soon be an enumeration exercise of both customers and assets as part of efforts to provide better services.

 

Ijose added that the company was also set to commence training and retraining of its officers to enhance good service delivery as part of efforts to erase the negative mindset of the people towards the organization.

 

He gave kudos to the State Government for steps taken so far to address issues of electricity supply to the State, describing it as an indication of the commitment of this administration to ensure stable supply of electricity.