BY  SIMON EBEGBULEM

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has kicked against the N750 monthly fixed charge collected by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, from its customers in the state, saying it amounts to extortion and exploitation of electricity consumers in the state.

The governor, who held a meeting with the management team of BEDC led by Mrs. Funke Osibodu, the Benin Forum, led by Chief David Edebiri and the civil society organisations in the state, yesterday,  said fixed charges and estimated tariff by the electricity company was not only irresponsive, but crude and criminal.

He said: “It is agreed that there is a fixed charge, there is fixed tariff by the new power company. There is no argument about the fact on whether or not the tariff or estimated charges are paid.”

Recalling the first meeting with the management of BEDC, Oshiomhole said: “Madam, you will recall the day I first formally received you in my office. I made some factual statements that the essence of privatisation is the increase in the entrepreneurial efficiency.

“I think I mentioned it that now that the Federal Government has handed over PHCN, it is incumbent that you improve on your service delivery to consumers in order to have confidence in your organisation and failure to go below that will spark off a revolt from consumers.  This is exactly what is happening today.

“As someone elected to represent the interest of the entire Edo people, I cannot be silent to this type of exploitation by one company which claims that because there is somebody in Abuja or somewhere responsible for generation, transmission of electricity is not the matter because from what I have gathered from the various speakers, it is certain that what is being done in Edo does not exist in other states.”

Managing Director of BEDC, Mrs. Funke Osibodu said the process of power supply involved three groups; generation, transmission and distribution.
She agreed that there was fixed tariff and estimated charge stressing that the issue of tariff and estimated charged were like a chain revolving from generation to distribution.