Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has said that his administration was currently concentrating on strengthening regulation, improving distribution and partnering with existing power distribution companies to enhance supply to residents.
He said the development was the reason his administration has not explored the transfer of regulatory oversight on electricity generation and distribution to the state by the Federal Government.
Speaking at an event marking the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the creation of the state, the governor disclosed that the state is strengthening
its regulation through the established Ondo State Electricity Regulatory Commission, which interfaces directly with distribution companies operating within the state.
He said: “We are not generating one for now, but in terms of regulation and distribution, we are very active.
“We have been doing a lot in that sector. You can see that all the DISCOs operating in Ondo State, we are working together with them.
“We have the Ondo State Electricity Regulatory Commission. We regulate and interface with them, so we are in charge of our own electricity.”
He hinted that his administration introduced the ‘O’ Datiwa Meter’ initiative as one of the key interventions to address the challenge of estimated billing, popularly known as “crazy bills,” imposed on consumers.
He explained that the state government had to subsidise the distribution of meters to residents to ensure transparency and fairness in electricity charges, which has reduced disputes between consumers and service providers, while improving accountability in billing.
According to him, power supply has improved in several parts of the state due to sustained engagement with the distribution companies, adding that many communities now enjoy more stable and consistent power.
He said:”Don’t forget the O’ Datiwa meter that we took up when they were giving crazy bills to our people. We had to take it upon ourselves to subsidise the distribution of meters to our people.
“If you look at it, electricity has been very, very constant in some parts of Ondo state since we came on board. It is because of the engagement we have been having with the distribution company,” he said.
On band classification system introduced by electricity providers, the governor noted that the charges are still high, expressing optimism that it would still reduce as time goes on.
He said: “Yes, there are Band A, Band B, and all of that. If you are on Band A, you can be having up to 18 hours in a day out of 24 hours, if I am not mistaken.
“Over time, just like when GSM started, it was expensive, but today it is cheap. It is the same thing. So, with time, we are going to improve on our administration, and then it becomes cheaper for all.”
He said that while independent power generation remains a future goal, the immediate priority is to stabilise distribution, strengthen regulation, and protect consumers from excessive billing.