BEDC Begins Metering Of Customers In Franchise States

The BEDC Electricity Plc, has commenced metering of customers in its franchise states of Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states, respectively.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Dr Henry Ajagbawa, disclosed this during an interactive session with newsmen in Benin City.

According to Dr Ajagbawa, the gesture of metering customers in the franchise states was geared towards ensuring that customers were billed more accurately and reduce the complaints of estimated billing.

Dr.Ajagbawa who spoke through the company’s Head of metering, Engr. Prosper Ovuomarie, said, metering have commenced in Benin South, Warri and Sapele areas while Ondo and Ekiti are currently going through the mandatory enumeration exercise, will be metered as soon as the enumeration was over.

Engr Ovuomarie, stated that as part of the company’s meter deployment exercise, “our team of meter engineers under the directive of Dr Ajagbawa have started the metering of over 8,000 customers in the Benin GRA, which will soon be over.

“So far, Ugbor feeder, Obehi, Adesuwa and water resources areas in Benin are currently undergoing metering.”

Speaking on the payment procedure for meter purchase, Engr Ovuomarie noted that the metering of customers were in two schemes, including Vendor Finance metering and MAP phase 2 metering.

Ovuomare explained that “vendor finance metering is currently ongoing in Benin, GRA, where a transformer was picked and all the customers in the said transformer without meters were metered at no immediate cost implication as payment of these meters were spread in line with NERC directive on deferred payment and base on the cost of meter between 24 to 36 months.”

As for Map phase 2, he said, “these set of meters were paid for before installation.”

Engr Ovuomarie however advised customers desirous to buy meters to proceed to the Company’s Customers Service Department in the various Regions to indicate their interest.

He disclosed that the single phase meters are sold for #63,061.32k, while the 3 phase goes for #117,910.63, but cautioned that money should not to be paid directly to any staff or installer, but through designated banks.

He frowned at Meter bypass and tampering, condemning the act in all its entirety, adding that as a matter of company’s policy, anyone caught in the act will definitely be prosecuted.

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