The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) on Thursday said customers in Sango and Otta owed the company N28 billion.
The Lead Media Relation, IBEDC, Mrs Busolami Tunwase stated this during a stakeholders meeting in Joju, Ota, Ogun.
Tunwase, who represented the Chief Executive Officer of IBEDC, Mr Kingsley Achife, said the N28 billion electricity debt was owed by residential customers and not industries.
“We are appealing to customers to urgently pay their bills in order for the company to survive and effectively carry out our business operations.
“The accumulation of debts is hampering the operations of the company because we have requests and obligations to fulfill.
“Not paying for electricity consumed is energy theft, which is punishable and attracts jail term,” she said.
Tunwase said the new electricity bill signed into law by President Bola Tinubu gave room for punishment to anyone caught stealing electricity.
She admonished customers to refrain from bypassing, illegal removal or movement of meter to another location, damaging meter to avoid paying bill, illegal connection, among others.
Tunwase noted that payments received provided the electricity value chain the needed revenue to improve service.
She advised them to desist from using substandard meters, which pose serious dangers to people.
Tunwase added that such erring customers with illegal meters should be reported to the appropriate channel as using illegal meters was an offence.
She also warned customers against assaulting its officials in the course of discharging their duties to avoid the wrath of the law.
Mr Tunde Adeyemi, a customer, said there was a need for IBEDC to redouble its efforts to provide stable electricity for residents.
Adeyemi lamented that epileptic power supply in Sango and environs was affecting livelihoods of people negatively.
He added that IBEDC also needed to address higher electricity bills to prevent shortchanging the public.
Adeyemi also appealed to IBEDC to make prepaid meters available to customers in order to enhance its operation.