Continuous blackouts, failure of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to provide electricity, and what consumers have described as unwilling of the distribution company to provide pre paid meters even after collecting money have continued to spark outrage in Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports BEDC had announced rollout plan of 190,000 meters within the next two years in Edo State with a monthly cumulative average of 10,000 units under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme.
The distribution company had also earmarked a total of 200,200 meters to be rolled out to customers in Delta state in the next two years with a monthly cumulative average of 10,000 units under the same MAP scheme.
Again, BEDC also allocated a total of over 100,000 meters for rollout to customers in Ekiti State in the next two years with a monthly average of 4,000 units under the same MAP scheme.
However, Civil Society Organizations in the States described the move by the Funke Osibodu led management of the BEDC as a bid to deceive the people of the States.
“BEDC is a failure; whether in Edo, Delta or Ondo; it has woefully failed to supply electricity while posting scandalous estimated bills every month. And it is unwilling to provide pre paid meters even after collecting money from owners of houses
“Due to the fear that gripped the Funke Osibodu led management of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company on the mega protest set off by civil society groups, residents of Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states, the management of the BEDC hurriedly put up a press conference in a bid to deceive the people,” Osazee Edigin, Public Relations Officer, Edo Civil Society Organisations said.
Meanwhile, the Member Representing Ughelli North/South and Udu Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Rev. Francis Ejiroghene Waive had petitioned the Chief Executive Officer and management of BEDC over poor distribution of electricity.
In an official letter dated 9th of September, 2019 and signed by Waive, who is presently the Deputy Chairman House Committee on Power at the House of Representatives, came hard on BEDC management to detailed report on the State of poor Electricity Distribution in the communities under his constituency and to explain why his constituency are suffering in darkness for over two years.
Also, Benin chiefs had gone against the Chief Executive Officer and management of BEDC over the same issue of poor distribution of electricity.
In a video that has been circulating on social media, the Benin Chiefs were seen invoking the gods against the directors at the entrance gate of the company.
Benin Chiefs reportedly invoke the gods, rain curses on Chief Executive Officer and management of BEDC over poor distribution of electricity. pic.twitter.com/yLYpiLeUCg
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— Oyibo of Abuja (@oyiboediri) October 13, 2019
BEDC to rollout 190,000 meters in Edo under MAP scheme
BEDC had announced its rollout plan of 190,000 meters within the next two years in Edo State with a monthly cumulative average of 10,000 units under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme.
Executive Director, Commercial, Dr. Abu Ejoor made this known during a Media launch of Edo State MAP by BEDC at the Head Office in Benin, stressing that in taking off, MAP will initially have up to three months of build up roll out, which will eventually pick up with expected monthly rate of 20,000 and 500,000 in all, across its franchise areas.
Dr. Ejoor disclosed that BEDC was taking off in two major locations; GRA to Ihama in Benin City and Okpela in Auchi North, adding that customers should cooperate with enumerators going round various locations in Edo and respond promptly to request for completion of enumeration forms.
“MAP will carry out meter roll out location by location, route by route, street by street, while enumeration is a prerequisite for meters to be provided under MAP”, he declared, saying, that in Edo state, rollout of meters would be handled by three of its MAP parties, namely FLT, G-Unit Engineering and Turbo Energy.
According to Mr. Ejoor, customers are required to complete the customer data and survey form, after which the MAP officials will assess the customer’s premises in readiness for metering, adding “once a customer premises is cleared, he will be advised on how to pay for the meter, whether single phase or three phase.”
Speaking on current power reality in Edo state, the Executive Director affirmed that 44 per cent of BEDC’s power allocation of 9 per cent from the national grid comes to Edo state, hinting that average of 86,061MW of electricity is delivered to the state monthly.
He added that about 14 per cent power generated is lost due to poor network infrastructure, saying work was ongoing to improve the network, adding “about 36% of power generated is lost through commercial theft or illegal consumption and non-payment of bills. About 30% of power supplied to households are wasted due to inefficient management of use.”
Dr. Ejoor equally informed journalists that the 132KV breaker of the 15MVA transformer at Okpella transmission station has been replaced with the transformer back to service.
“The 1 No 40MVA TCN transformer substation in Auchi is close to completion as the work on the control room has progressed. BEDC has already completed the construction of the associated 33KV lines in readiness to pick load once the project is realized”, he added.
Also speaking, Chief State Head, Edo, Mr. Abel Enechaziam listed major bottlenecks from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) end to include; the failed 1x40MVA power transformer in Oghara out since and the failed 2 Nos $0MVA grounding transformers since 2017.
Mr. Enechaziam also listed other challenges to include; limitations in re-arranging distribution network to improve power supply due to inflexibility, network and equipment vandalisation of over 40 in the state this year.
BEDC earmarks 200,200 meters for MAP in Delta
BEDC had earmarked a total of 200,200 meters to be rolled out to customers in Delta state in the next two years with a monthly cumulative average of 10,000units under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme.
Executive Director, Commercial, Mr. Abu Ejoor disclosed this at a the media Launch of MAP in Asaba for Delta state customers saying that the scheme was taking off in Asaba and will eventually move to all local government locations in the state.
According to him, some of the locations flagged for takeoff of MAP within Asaba Township include NTA road, behind NTA, behind Government House, Amechi Iyio Way, Anwai road, Infant Jesus axis, Borrow Pit community and Ibuzo town road.
Mr. Ejoor opined that the MAP scheme would assist in reducing customer’s complaints on metering, wrong and estimated billings which he hinted, accounts for over 60 per cent of complaints.
Stressing that BEDC was committed to improving service delivery to customers, the executive Director said the company had connected 112 communities without supply in its coverage areas to the national grid with 55 of such locations in Delta.
Speaking on current reality on power supply in Delta, Mr. Ejoor explained that 32per cent of BEDC’s power allocation comes to Delta, adding that an average of 84,516MW is delivered to the state monthly.
“Before Asaba and Warri TCN problem, there was average daily availability of 10-22hours on 33KV feeders and 6-10 hours on 11kv feeders. About 14per cent of power generated is lost due to poor network infrastructure, while we continue to improve the network,” he added.
He listed some recent power supply improvement projects in Delta to include; construction of commercial feeders in Asaba, Warri, Udu, ogwuashi-Uku, Agbor from 6hours to average 22hours to the commercial customers in the environs and the rehabilitation and restoration of power supply to many communities in the state including, Ubulu-Ukwu, Ibuzo, Issele-Uku and Illah.
Also speaking, Chief State Head, Delta, Engr Fidelis Obishai disclosed that in view of the failed 2x150MVA 330/132kv power transformers in Asaba Transmission station, customers were being presently fed from Onitsha, adding that available power is however 30MW as against 100MW required.
Obishai equally lamented that due to the faulty 1x60MVA power transformer in Effurun, due to undersized conductors heavy load management is taking place in Effurun, Warri, PTI and Sapele axis of the state.
He said that total number of customers to be enumerated is over 319,552 across the business units urging customers to cooperate with enumerators during the ongoing enumeration and asset validation exercise.
BEDC to Rollout Meters for MAP in Ekiti
BEDC again allocated a total amount of over 100,000 meters for rollout to customers in Ekiti State in the next two years with a monthly average of 4,000 units under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme.
Executive Director, Commercial, BEDC , Mr. Abu Ejoor disclosed this at a Media Launch of MAP in Ekiti State held at BON Hotel, Ado-Ekiti.
Mr. Ejoor told journalists that in Ekiti, metering would be taking off in Ado-Ekiti and Ido-Ekiti and will eventually move into other locations, adding that the roll out of meters will be handled by FLT Energy and Sabrud Conssortium, both designated parties.
“MAPs will carry our meter rollout location by location, route by route and street by street while enumeration is a pre-requisite for meters to be provided under MAP” he said, adding that
“some of the locations flagged for take-off include : Fajuy Park Area, Similoluwa Area, Similoluwa Area / Teaching Hospital, Ajowa Street, Oriapata, Opposite School of Nursing, Adebayo Area, Adehun Quarters, Olora Area, Ile-ileri, Adehun Quarters, Peace Avenue and Pathfinder Hotel Road among others.”
He opined that with the MAP Scheme, it will assist in reducing customers complaints on metering, wrong and estimated billing which he said accounts for over 60 percent of complaints.
Speaking on current reality on power supply in the state, the Executive Director said, average of 13,432 MWh of electricity is delivered to the state monthly, noting however, that 14 percent of power generated is lost due to poor network infrastructure while about 36 percent of power generated is also lost to commercial theft or illegal consumption.
Ejoor listed some recent power improvement projects in Ekiti to include; Installation and commissioning of 3 N0s 11kv indoor panels at Agric 15MVA injection substation to replace the obsolete ones, and the Commissioning of the new CBN Ado Ekiti 2.5MVA 33/11KV injection substation and two numbers 1.5MVA 11/0.415KV distribution substations within the CBN complex to increase power supply and quality of supply from 6 hours to 12 hours.
Major challenges according to him, include; transmission bottlenecks, limitations in rearranging Distribution network to improve power supply and increase in network and equipment vandalisation.
“We implore customers to note that power sector improvement process is a journey and not a race and that with their collective support by prompt payment of bills and honouring of their obligations, we shall get to our desired destination faster” he said.
Chief State Head, Ekiti State, Mrs Kunbi Labiyi said BEDC in a bid to support and grow economic activity in Ekiti has approved over 100 projects, nothing that the beneficiaries had between 3-6hours hitherto but now access more supply between 10-22hours.
She also informed that between 2018 and now, BEDC has connected 112 communities without supply in its coverage areas to the national grid, 19 of which are located in Ekiti state.
“Our customers are enjoined to cooperate with the enumerators who have been going round some of the various locations in Ekiti and most especially the mentioned locations by responding promptly to requests for completion of enumeration form and other steps as this is a precondition for metering.” She added.
BEDC LIED ABOUT METERS ROLL OUT
Due to the fear that gripped the Funke Osibodu led management of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company on the mega protest set off by civil society groups, residents of Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti state, the management of the BEDC hurriedly put up a press conference in a bid to deceive the people, Edigin, Public Relations Officer of the Edo Civil Society Organisations had said.
“Edo Civil Society Organisations, a formidable network of civil rights groups in Edo state, armed with the requisite information about the Meter Access Providers scheme will attempt to puncture the lies put out by BEDC in the press conference.
“The Meter Access Provider (MAP) was initiated by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to bring in third party companies to install and maintain meters within the 11 DISCOs across the country. Going forward, metering will no longer be the preoccupation of the DISCOs but of the third party companies.
“The scheme was expected to take off since 2018 but has suffered setbacks due to the deliberate attempts by the DISCOs to frustrate same because of their exploitative tendencies through estimated billings.
“MAP is a third party arrangement in giving customers meters which are paid for, BEDC has no kobo in it. Let us not be deceived by their lies. Since take over by the current management, they have left the replacement and maintenance of equipment to customers even as darkness have become the only commodity they supply the masses.
“BEDC should stop the lies and start gathering their belongings as their exit date draws nigh”.