By Prince Okafor

BENIN Electricity Distribution Plc (BEDC) has announced 39,000 meter roll-out for the first half of 2017 in compliance with the directive of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to distribution companies (DISCOs) on massive metering of customers.

 
This initiative stemmed from the conclusion of the DISCOs first quarter customer forum across its coverage of Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states with a pledge by the management on improved service delivery .

Prepaid meters

The roll-out plan announced to customers at the customer forum locations 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 utilized 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, Engr. 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.

In his opening address to customers in Benin, Chief State Head, Edo State, Engr 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 vandalizing 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.
In his own speech during the customer forum in Warri, Chief State Head, Delta, Mr Ernest Edgar pledged that despite the challenges faced by BEDC, the company would still ensure that customers got the needed service delivery but warned customers to avoid all forms of illegal deals with some corrupt staff, lamenting that the high rate of theft of BEDC equipment and vandalisation was becoming worrisome.
Edgar urged customers to pay all outstanding debts owed BEDC saying that it was the only way the company can work effectively to satisfy their expectations.

In Ondo and Ekiti states, the Chief States’ Head, Mrs. Kunbi Labiyi reiterated the commitment of BEDC staff and management to serve customers better despite challenges even as she declared that the metering roll-out plan was to gradually reduce the incidence of estimated billing.

 
She declared that BEDC was determined to provide better service delivery, adding that the processes of power generation transmission and distribution has become problematic because about 3,000 megawatts is presently being generated for 160million Nigerians, an amount she said was less than the amount required to adequately serve the people.