Fayemi signs electricity regulatory law

From Victor Akinkuolie, Ado Ekiti
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The Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, yesterday signed electricity regulatory Act, which forbids theft and vandalisation of electricity equipment and installation in the state.

According to the content of the act tagged: “Ekiti State Electricity Regulatory Act 2015” it stated that vandals and theft of electricity equipment now risk two years jail term with option of N10 million fine.

The act also mandated the establishment of electricity committees to monitor suspicious activities on any electricity installation or equipment and report to distribution companies(discos).

Speaking at the ceremony, the Governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, stated that the Act was enacted to protect both the suppliers and consumers of electricity.

“This regulation was made to protect suppliers and users of electricity. If you tamper with your meters or do anything untoward to the transformers, you are liable.

“The electricity company, I mean Benin Electricity Distribution Companies (BEDC) is not to default in electricity supply, because such also carried penalty”.

Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BEDC, Mrs Funke Osibodu, lamented that the distribution companies lose about N30 billion daily due to the activities of vandals and theft.

She commended the Ekiti State Government for enacting the law, explaining that it will help in boosting power supply to Ekiti state.

Osibodu, represented by a staff of the company, Barr Lucky Ayomoto, added that BEDC, which controls light distribution in Edo, Delta, Ekiti and Ondo states, have taken giant strides at ensuring that the economies of those states were given impetus through improved electricity supplies since commencing operations.

“Ekiti state Electricity Regulation Act 2015 therefore seeks to curb and deter illegal and unauthorised use of regulated electricity supply as well as to protect electricity infrastructure.

“According to the Nigeria power baseline report of 2015, Nigeria was estimated to have daily technical losses of 12% and non technical losses of 34%, giving a combined total of 46% in aggregate technical and non technical losses”.

Osibodu added that the BEDC, as part of its responsibilities, has increased power supply to Ado Ekiti capital city from five hours to 9 hours daily, while other towns like Ido, Otun, Osun, Ira, Igogo and others in Ekiti North now enjoy 18 hours daily supplies.

Similarly in their separate remarks, the Chairman, Ado Ekiti Residents Electricity Consumers Association, Dr. Ibukun Ogundipe, the Chairman of the Council of Traditional rulers, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju and the Elemure of  Emure Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Adebayo, commended the Ekiti State Government for organising the programme.

They explained that the only problem causing friction between the BEDC and the public in Ekiti has been that consumers are undermetered.

“What they use here is estimated billings; people should be given meters the way it is in Lagos.