BEDC tasks customers on prompt payment of bills
The new Managing Director of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) PLC, Mr Deolu Ijose on Wednesday solicited the support of customers for prompt payment of bills to increase availability of energy in its franchise states.
Ijose made the call at a media parley in Benin to officially announce his assumption of office as the new managing director of the DISCO.
Ijose took over the management of BEDC on March 16, replacing Dr Henry Ajagbawa.
According to Ijose, BEDC buys energy on a monthly basis with about N11 billion, but lamented that the company was only able to recoup between 50 per cent and 60 per cent of the money expended in the purchase of energy.
“We can only distribute what we have. If customers want us to continue to provide effective power supply, they should endeavour to pay their bills promptly so we can buy more energy.
“Energy theft and dilapidated infrastructure are part of the major challenges confronting the DISCO.
“The bottom line is that we need funding: we need money to be able to buy more energy and fix the dilapidated infrastructure.
“We must collaborate with the citizens and plead with our customers to pay their bills because BEDC is not a social service anymore; it is not NEPA.
“On monthly basis, BEDC must go out to buy energy from Nigeria Bulk Electricity Limited (NBET) and get invoice every month to the tune of about N11 billion.
“Yet, we practically collect about 50 or 60 per cent of that sum.
“So, that is why funding is important; It is now for the customers to assist by settling their bills as at when due to enable the company to pay up debts and buy more energy,” Ijose said.
Ijose noted that the power supply from the National Grid was grossly inadequate, adding that BEDC was engaging stakeholders and embedded generation, mini-grid and franchising to argument the supply from the grid.
According to him, talks are on to partner with the Edo Government Ossiomo Power Project.
He, however, noted that customers would soon witness the massive transformation of its services, including the deployment of meters across their franchise areas.
The Managing Director urged customers to ensure that they were captured in the ongoing enumeration across the four states.
