By John Adeleye
The Ekiti State Government 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.
Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Prof Mobolaji 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.
Recalled 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.
