Ejiofor Alike
Benin Electricity Distribution Plc. (BEDC) has unveiled plans to install 39,000 meters in the first half of 2017 in compliance with the directive of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to distribution companies on massive metering of customers.
This initiative stemmed from the conclusion of the company’s first quarter customer fora across its coverage states of Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states with a pledge by the management on improved service delivery
The roll-out plan announced to customers at each of the customer forum location in Benin, Warri, Akure and Ado-Ekiti, according to a statement from BEDC, is to be given to customers across the BEDC franchise areas, with a view to ensuring that power generated and distributed to customers were utilised in a most efficient manner and to avert illegal consumption of electricity so that it will be made available to paying customers.
Head of Metering, BEDC, Mr. Meshaic Okhumeode said the meter installation will be preceded by enumeration of customers on feeders servicing the earmarked locations to reduce power theft through bypass and illegal connections, adding that the meters will be mounted on the pole as against the practice of mounting it on residential premises, saying this will engender collective monitoring by residents within a neighbourhood and the service provider.
He also affirmed BEDC’s readiness to ensure total metering of its customers within the next five years, urging customers to be patient until the metering reaches them, as the metering will be done in batches.
In his opening remarks at the fora, Head of Key Clients Services Group, Mr Abel Enechaizam said the fora was designed to dialogue with BEDC customers on ways to serve them better, adding that issues bordering on operations and services and the customers’ expectations were being resolved.
Enechaizam told customers that there were five major stakeholders in power sector business namely; gas suppliers, generation companies (gencos), transmission, distribution companies (Discos) and consumers, stressing however that the customers were very key to the substance of the chain.
He explained that on the part of BEDC, some critical issues were equally affecting its ability to give customers the expected service delivery listing them to include non-payment of bills, low power generation, high energy theft, illegal connections and funding restrains occasioned by Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) limit and foreign exchange factor.
In his opening address to customers in Benin, Chief State Head, Edo State, Mr Fidelis Obishai assured them of BEDC’s readiness to improve service delivery especially in the area of power supply, but warned against the habit of vandalising the company’s properties at the slightest anger.
Obishai who pointed out that the task of providing power supply to customers on regular basis was being affected by the challenge of system collapse and low generation of power to the grid, said this was invariably slowing down BEDC’s ability to meet customer expectations.
