By Josephine Oguntoyinbo

The Ondo State government’s policy of providing prepaid meters to electricity consumers, has recorded tremendous success, with over 7,000 meters installed for residents across the state’s 18 council areas between October last year and February this year.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Power, Engr. Johnson Alabi, disclosed this while speaking on the state government-owned radio station’s programme, Policy Talk. He reiterated that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is fully committed to enhancing electricity supply in Ondo State, as outlined in his EASE agenda, Adequate Power and Affordable Energy.

According to him, the O’Datiwa Mass Metering Project aims to improve transparency, efficiency, and accountability in power distribution.

He added that the initiative has been largely successful due to its widespread acceptance among residents.

Contrary to the initial politicisation of the initiative by some individuals before the last gubernatorial election, Alabi further stated: “Governor Aiyedatiwa certainly does not take this initiative lightly. He is dedicated to making more efforts to enhance electricity in the state, as it is one of his administration’s key priorities.”

He said: “Going by the records, in just five months, we have installed over 7,000 meters for residents. This proves that the major challenge our people faced was the lack of electricity meters. The project’s success has significantly helped to alleviate electricity-related issues.”

“This innovation has also improved electricity management, which was another major challenge in the state. With meters now installed, residents can better manage their electricity consumption. Consequently, this allows others to access power at different intervals. Similarly, people who previously suffered from estimated billing no longer have to, as they can now enjoy accurate billing from BEDC without hassle.”

Regarding electricity theft, the Special Adviser disclosed that under the Ondo Electricity Power Sector Law, it is a criminal offence for anyone not to have a meter or to bypass one. He described this as a significant milestone in the history of both the state and the nation. “In this era, offenders will face prosecution, fines, and jail terms as appropriate.”

He urged citizens to act responsibly. While describing the initiative as both novel and challenging, Alabi noted that Ondo State is the first in the federation to launch a Mass Metering Programme in the best interest of its people.

He,therefore, encouraged residents to follow the correct procedures for capturing and clearing accumulated bills by writing to the Ondo State Electricity Regulatory Bureau (OSERB) for reconciliation.

He also discouraged individuals from purchasing meters and keeping them for future use. “Meters purchased should be immediately placed on the network and installed by the state’s registered installers. The state has sufficient meters in stock for deployment.”