Tariff review: BEDC plans 300MW

By Fatimah Muraina
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The Management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has said that it will revolutionize electricity distribution and provision of top services to customers by embarking on network re-alignment, provide new distribution transformers and also provide dedicated express feeders to supply 24/7 power to identify customer groups.

This was contained in a press release signed by the company’s Ondo state Public Relations Manager, Mr Mike Barnabas which was made available to The Hope in Akure.

The revolutionalisation of the electricity, the release noted was as a result of a reviewed tariff.

Speaking to customers during a Public Consultation Forum organized ahead of the tariff review in Akure, BEDC management said it would actualize its proposal for an embedded power of about 300megawatts under the willing buyer, willing seller arrangement with independent power generators outside the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) national grid, to boost power supply and meet needs of customers.

BEDC assured customers that it would also improve supply to commercial entities across its coverage states due to the need to enable the companies ensure job creation and balance social lives, by adding new injection substations and 500 number distribution substations to strengthen existing network.

The presentation which was anchored by the Chief State Head, Ondo and Ekiti states, Mrs. Kunbi Labiyi, who explained the upcoming number of transmission stations will help BEDC reduce overloading and mitigate load growth, stressing that “ageing equipment will be replaced to improve general public safety and ensure quality power to customers”.

“Plan is ongoing to invest in electrification of electrified areas and strengthening of existing network” Labiyi added.

 The company she said also plans to ensure 100per cent metering under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) and 100per cent enumeration and proper mapping of customers to transformers and feeders.

While addressing customer complaints further, BEDC said it would equip its Call Centre to a level that customer issues would be resolved at a point of discussion thereby making the Call Centre a one-stop shop for complaints resolution with further automation of BEDC network infrastructure assuring that NERC Forum offices in Ondo and Ekiti will equally be commissioned to address customer complaints.

The company noted that in all the electricity value chain process, customers were kings and critical to sustenance of the sector, and encourage them to pay their bills saying that this would ensure they got adequate, reliable and affordable power.

In his opening remarks,the representative of the NERC Chairman in Akure, Manager, Network Engineering Division, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Engr. Aluko Ayodele, at the public consultation in Akure, stated that the public forum on tariff review is one that distinguishes the power sector from others which makes it compulsory for all DisCos to first and foremost consult their customers who are the key stakeholders before they can embark on any review.

 Ayodele said that NERC performs dual roles within the power sector saying it ensures that customers are not exploited unnecessarily through the regulation of tariff and that investor’s interests are  protected which creates a balance between the two.

“NERC has just released an order placing a cap ceiling on estimated billing which is one of the most significant steps taken by the regulator to protect customers against exploitative billing so far”

The essence of this, he said is to ensure that all DisCos meters their customers and bill them based on actual consumption when tariff is reviewed soon.

He urged customers to use the public forum to engage their service provider constructively on areas where improvements are needed on the network.