Electricity consumers in Ogun State have tasked investors and other stakeholders in the power sector including Electricity Distribution Companies, Transmission companies and Generation Companies to step up measures at ensuring the stoppage of estimated billings, provision of meters and improved power supply across the State.
The above were the submissions of views of energy consumers and stakeholders including representatives of civil societies, Community Development Associations, Labour Unions and artisan groups at the Stakeholders forum organised by the State House of Assembly at the Assembly complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
The forum was put together to address various complaints from the residents of the State which included Estimated billings, inability to provide Pre-paid meters to customers, non compliance with National Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC), Regulations and erratic power supply in the State among others, which needed to be resolved by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC).
In their submissions, the consumers tasked the energy companies to immediately find solutions to the issues raised to ensure regular power supply.
Declaring the forum open, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Suraju Ishola Adekunbi said meeting was another step in the attainment of the goal of the State Government to make life more comfortable for the people as well as industrialists to ensure accelerated development.
Adekunbi while commending the Governor Ibikunle Amosun led administration for its initiatives at supporting the power sector through provision of 500 sets of transformers, massive investment in the construction of thermal power plant and solar power plants for improved electricity supply, urging the IBEDC to redouble their efforts at ensuring adequate power supply to the three Senatorial Districts of the State.
In his contribution, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Energy, Engr Taiwo Fagbemi, stated that the State Government had signed pact with eight independent power producers and six others to generate electricity from renewable sources with a view to improving power supply to the people of the State.
Responding, the Executive Director, (ANED) and the Spokesman of all the DISCO Companies commended the President Mohammed Buhari led-Federal Government for giving opportunity to the new Meter Asset Provider (MAP) through a grant to private sector operator to supply meters to interested Distribution Companies (DISCOs) which would commence within the next few weeks.
He cited lack of proper planning by successive administrations at the Federal level for energy consumption in the nation, low power generation, obsolete equipment, regulated energy pricing and non payment by some fraudulent energy consumers and workers as part of the constraints being faced by the DISCOs, assuring that issues of genuine outrageous bill would be addressed by the relevant sections from the companies.
Speaking, the Deputy Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo enjoined the distribution companies to take advantage of the grant from the Federal Government at ensuring more productivity in their services, assuring that the communique arrived at during the forum would be communicated to the National Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC), Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing as well as the two Chambers of the National Assembly.
Packaged by Hazeez Ayansola
