By Sir Ralph Okhiria
The management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), has stressed the need for her customers to always pay in full for services rendered them by the company.
Managing Director of the company, Mrs. Funke Osibodu made the appeal last weekend at a news conference in Benin City, Edo State.
Represented by Mr. Abel Enechaziam, the BEDC boss, expressed displeasure that some of their customers were in the habit of starving the company of legitimate funds needed for the smooth running of the company.
She noted that if customers refused to pay up their indebtedness to the company, it makes things difficult for the availability of effective and efficient services to its numerous customers.
Osibodu, stated that without funds, the company cannot function optimally, hence the need for electricity consumers to promptly settle their bills.
She, however disclosed that no fewer than 48 communities in its franchise area of the company were successfully connected to the national grid in 2019, noting that more will done this year.
A breakdown of the communities connected to the national grid in 2019 shows that 20 communities in Delta, 16 in Edo and six each in Ondo and Ekiti States, respectively.
“For example in Edo State, Oke-Irhue, an agrairian communities in Uhunmwode Local government area of Edo State was connected to the national grid for the first time in its existence, late December 2019 amidst fanfare by her inhabitants. More of such connections will happen in 2020,” she assures.
The BEDC, however appealed to the public against vandalization of its electrical equipment and molestation of her staff on legitimate duties.
Osibodu, nonetheless, expressed happiness that BEDC efforts at curbing the menace of vandalism on its network has received a boost with the sentencing of one David James to three years imprisonment by a Benin Magistrate Court.
She therefore, urged BEDC customers “to watch out for electrical construction occurring without the official clearance of BEDC which many not be in line with safety standards and can pose danger to public life and safety”.
She commended some BEDC customers who at one time or the other reported to the company illegal activities of some dubious members of the public and urged all well meaning customer of BEDC to continue in their patriotic acts by watching over the company’s equipments.
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