Some customers of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) have lauded the National Mass Metering Programme of the Federal Government, describing it as a relief from the estimated billing system.
The customers expressed the viewpoint in separate interviews with the Newsmen at the official launch of the National Mass Metering programme, organised by the company on Wednesday in Ibadan.
Mrs Oyetayo Adeosun, a customer at Ikolaba, said she was happy to be one of the beneficiaries of the ongoing mass metering programme of the government.
“The free meter that we got last week has been a great relief, because before, it had been an issue of why do we get this much, are we being charged according to what we use?
“But now, it has been fair, we are going to get what we used,” Adeosun said.
Another customer, Mrs Bola Ayinde, said: “I am happy about the meter. So, God will bless Nigeria and Oyo State. ”
Similarly, Amos Agboola, another customer at Ikolaba area, said the meter was given to him free of charge.
“Since installed, the new meter has been a good improvement, and for us, we can see the energy usage and it can help us to monitor it, to know when to make online payment.
“I think it is a good improvement for both the consumers and the distributors, as it is connected to their network also,” Agboola said.
Mr Ayo Adio, the Head of Customers’ Support, IBEDC, said that the sensitisation had been ongoing, to enable customers under its franchise to know that they needed not pay anybody to get the meters being distributed for free by the government.
Adio, who spoke on behalf of the management of the company said: “Customers are not paying for them.
“The essence of this programme is to discourage estimated billings, which customers have been complaining about.
“We believe that within few weeks, most of the customers designated to have this meter will have them installed in their premises.
“We have our strategy for distribution such that it will not depend on ‘man know man’; it is organised strategically to reach our customers free.”
It was stated that IBEDC had commenced the distribution of the 104,000 free meters, provided by the government and locally manufactured, over a month ago, across all the areas of its franchise.