Benin Disco provides 500 distribution transformers

The management of Benin Electricity Distribution Plc (BEDC) said it has provided over 500 distribution transformers to ensure reliable power distribution to its customers. The company has also constructed 10 dedicated distribution lines for commercial and industrial customers, including replacing failed ones, in addition to 398 distribution transformers provided in the review period.

In a statement by the company, it assured customers across its franchise areas of Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states of its readiness to resolve all issues and problems associated with operations, soliciting for their patience and understanding.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Funke Osibodu, who was represented by the Executive Director, Commercial, Mr Abu Ejoor, gave the assurance during a public forum organised at the instance of the House of Representatives Committee on Power, in Benin City.

She affirmed that BEDC was committed to resolving issues bordering on the power supply, metering, and transformer repair/energisation and billing complaints as quickly as possible, noting that some will require time to tackle.

According to her, BEDC has resolved over 50,000 complaints through the customer complaints unit since inception, using centralised Call Centre and complaints tracking software; adding “we have also resolved the backlog of metering requests at takeover, having installed over 120,500 meters; we have taken advantage of both the industry CAPMI Scheme and own funded meters.”

Earlier, the Chairman House Committee on Power, Dan Asuquo, had told consumers who brought complaints to the public forum that distribution companies (Discos) were purely in business and as such must cover their costs, urging customers to ensure prompt payment of bills.

He, however, advised that BEDC should be sensitive to customer complaints since they were the core of their business in the first instance.

Also, the acting General Manager, Customer Services, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Shittu Shuaibu, urged customers who are not satisfied with the complaints resolution by BEDC to approach the forum office in Benin for further assistance.

Shittu stated that customers must, however, know that electricity production was capital intensive, saying “it takes $1 million to generate one megawatt of electricity and as such customers must ensure regular bills payment to enable DISCOS serve them better as well as recoup such capital investment.”

The House Committee which had earlier visited BEDC installations including the meter and transformer stores at Etete and Nekpenekpen stores in Benin City where they were showed over 20,000 prepaid meters awaiting deployment advised BEDC to expedite action in resolving customer complaints presented at the forum which centered on estimated billing, metering, faulty transformer, and irregular supply among others.