The Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has taken delivery of 75,000 metres out of the 161,000 allotted to it for its four franchise states by the Federal Government under its free metering programme.
The power distribution company revealed that it allocated 38,000 of the free metres to its three regions in Edo State, namely Benin, Uromi and Auchi.
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of BEDC Electricity Plc, Jonathan Lawani, disclosed this on Thursday at a one-day stakeholders’ engagement meeting held in Benin City.
Lawani, an engineer, said a total of 161,000 metres were being expected from the Federal Government for the BEDC, and cautioned customers against paying for the metres or their installation.
The BEDC boss raised the alarm that customers were rejecting the metres on assumptions that they consume more electricity.
“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 metres 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 metre.
“These new metres 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”, Lawani posited.
On electricity theft, the BEDC CEO advised customers not to tamper with metres, warning that offenders would be punished.
Meanwhile, the Edo State government said it remained committed to establishing a Metre Assembly plant.
The state’s commissioner for Power, Paul Usenbor, who spoke at a stakeholder’s engagement on power, said the priority of Governor Monday Okpebholo was the provision of 24 hours power supply across the state.
Usenbor said the engagement showed strong commitment for stronger infrastructure, for better service, for more standardised metering and faster response to services.
According to the commissioner, “On 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.”