Energy theft, huge debt affecting our services — IBEDC cries out
Omobolaji Adekunle
The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has cried out that the energy theft and huge debt by its customers in Abeokuta Metropoly is affecting its services.
At the engagement with the customers held at IBEDC Office, Leme, Abeokuta the Ogun state capital, the Managing Director of IBEDC, Engr. Kingsley Achife, who was represented by the Lead Media Relations of the organization, Busolami Tunwashe expressed his displeasure on the behaviour of the customers in Abeokuta.
He disclosed the huge amount of debt being owed by the customers and how it have been causing damages to services.
While enlightening the customers on the safety measures, he advised them to stay away from unlawful meters and engaging third party when they want to make order for meters, adding that they should stop attacking the staff of the organisation because they are also human beings.
He however urged the customers to notify the organization about any act of fraudulence by the staff of the organization to aide their combat against the mischievous acts of some staff.
“The purpose of this engagement is to interact with customers and make some things absolutely clear to them. And also to make an appeal on the issue of debt. In Ogun state alone, customers are owing us over N67billion. We are asking them to please pay up, no business can survive with such huge amount.
“Another issue is the issue of energy theft where customers shortchange the company, they either don’t pay for light they use or some people tamper with their meters or some people don’t even have meters at all and connect directly to Electricity.
“Sometimes they carry out these acts in the night and it is causing us a lot of losses; and that is why we are appealing to our customers today to please desist from the act of energy theft and get meters. If they get meters, the issue of high bills will be a thing of the past.
“We also want to appeal to them on the use of third party to buy meters. We have made metres available, you don’t need a third party to buy meters, just pay through the Bank account that has been provided and you will get metered in an easier way.
“We also draw the attention of our customers to the safety implication of using illicit meters, that if you tamper with your metre, if you use such substandard meters there could be safety issues, there could be electricity shock or fire outbreak with the use of illicit meters. We also appeal to our customers to stop assaulting our staff.
“There is a measure in place already for any staff found wanting, and we also encourage our customers to blow whistle on our staff. If you see anyone doing ill please report that staff. When you report that staff, we will investigate and if the complaint is genuine and it is true, that staff will be dealt with. In the course of five months, about ten staff have been shown away out, so any staff that commits any infraction will be let out of the service of IBEDC. Our core value is integrity and we do everything excellently well.”
