Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) says customers were rejecting Federal Government’s free meters on assumptions that the consume more electricity they can not afford.
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of BEDC Electricity Plc, Engr. Jonathan Lawani, who disclosed this at a one day stakeholders engagement meeting held in Benin City, said the Federal Government under its free metering programme for its four franchise states has delivered 75,000 metres to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to be distributed to consumers
According to him, 38,000 of the free metres received from the federal government have been allocated to its three regions of Benin, Uromi and Auchi regions of Edo State.
He said:”We have received 75,000 for BEDC for the four states of Ondo, Edo, Delta and Ekiti States. The programme is going to be 161,000 meters for BEDC. Edo State alone has gotten over 38,000 allocated because we serve four states. Out of the four states we serve, we allocated 38,000 to the three regions in Edo State and installation is ongoing.
“These metres come at no cost to the customers. We have various channels of escalating any complain. We will not hesitate to instill discipline among our people. In Auchi, we arrested an installer who charged money to install a metre.
“These new meters do not consume electricity as being speculated. It is programmed to perform optimally. They have been certified. We are advising our customers to imbibe the culture of energy management. Do not put on your light when you don’t need them. Try to manage your energy and the metre will not run fast. They are good metres that have been certified. We observe that people are rejecting and insulting our installers.”
Speaking on electricity theft, the BEDC boss urged customers not to tamper with metre even as he vowed that offenders would be punished.
In his earlier remarks, Edo Commissioner for Power, Hon Paul Usenbor, who spoke at a stakeholders engagement on power, expressed the desire of Governor Monday Okpebholo to provide regular power supply across the state.
He said the engagement has shown strong commitment for stronger infrastructure, for better service, for more standardised metering and faster response to services.
He added:”In the long term, our expectation is to have better power supply for our citizens and public institutions.The long term is more participation of private sector partners that are coming into the state. His Excellency has mandated that metering Assembly will be done in Edo State.”