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Tag: BEDC

  • NGO warns against attacks on BEDC

    A group with 46 allied Civil Society Organisations (CSOs),  Transparency Advocacy for Development Initiative (TADI), has warned against incessant attacks on Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) by electricity consumers in Edo State.This  concerns especially those hiding under the cover of civil rights advocacy to foist unlawful conducts, and the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, saying such persons should desist from such acts forthwith or face legal actions.

    Transparency Advocacy for Development Initiative (TADI) gave the warning at a world press conference in Abuja, which was addressed by its National Convener, Comrade Solomon Adodo, at Abia House.

    He said: “We call on the Governor of Edo State to forthwith refrain from antagonising BEDC Plc and instead follow relevant rules and guidelines governed by clearly cut contract terms. The issue of power distribution in Edo State should not be unnecessarily politicised.

    “It should be made clear that all distribution companies (DisCos) are firmly protected by the contract terms and conditions under, which they were issued licences and it is on record that BEDC has not in any way breached such conditions.

    “We shall resist this evil at all costs in the best interest of sustainable business practice in order not to ward of future investors and/or frustrate the gains made thus far in the power sector.”

    On this note, we call on the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET) and every concerned regulator to immediately come out and clear the air on the needless controversies being stirred to cripple the BEDC under its current management. “If we do not get appropriate feedback within seven days of this notice, we shall be left with no other option but to embark on peaceful procession to these offices for the sake of sanity in our power sector,” the group said.

    TADI said as stakeholders, the Federal Government has representation on the board of respective DisCos and it is totally at its discretion to appoint whoever she deems fit to represent her interest in the DisCos. “It is not the DisCos that determine who the Federal Government appoints as her representative contrary to what some naysayers would have us believe in the case of BEDC’’.

     

  • NGO warns against attacks on BEDC

    A group with 46 allied Civil Society Organisations (CSOs),  Transparency Advocacy for Development Initiative (TADI), has warned against incessant attacks on Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) by electricity consumers in Edo State.This  concerns especially those hiding under the cover of civil rights advocacy to foist unlawful conducts, and the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, saying such persons should desist from such acts forthwith or face legal actions.

    Transparency Advocacy for Development Initiative (TADI) gave the warning at a world press conference in Abuja, which was addressed by its National Convener, Comrade Solomon Adodo, at Abia House.

    He said: “We call on the Governor of Edo State to forthwith refrain from antagonising BEDC Plc and instead follow relevant rules and guidelines governed by clearly cut contract terms. The issue of power distribution in Edo State should not be unnecessarily politicised.

    “It should be made clear that all distribution companies (DisCos) are firmly protected by the contract terms and conditions under, which they were issued licences and it is on record that BEDC has not in any way breached such conditions.

    “We shall resist this evil at all costs in the best interest of sustainable business practice in order not to ward of future investors and/or frustrate the gains made thus far in the power sector.”

    On this note, we call on the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET) and every concerned regulator to immediately come out and clear the air on the needless controversies being stirred to cripple the BEDC under its current management. “If we do not get appropriate feedback within seven days of this notice, we shall be left with no other option but to embark on peaceful procession to these offices for the sake of sanity in our power sector,” the group said.

    TADI said as stakeholders, the Federal Government has representation on the board of respective DisCos and it is totally at its discretion to appoint whoever she deems fit to represent her interest in the DisCos. “It is not the DisCos that determine who the Federal Government appoints as her representative contrary to what some naysayers would have us believe in the case of BEDC’’.

  • ‘Stop attacks against BEDC’

    A group of allied Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Transparency Advocacy for Development Initiative (TADI), has warned Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and others hiding under the cover of civil rights advocacy to foist unlawful conducts, to desist from doing so or face legal actions.

    The group addressed a news conference at the weekend in Abuja.

    The National Convener, Comrade Solomon Adodo, said: “We call on Governor Godwin Obaseki to refrain from antagonising the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) Plc, and instead follow relevant rules and guidelines governed by contract terms. Power distribution in Edo State should not be unnecessarily politicised.

    “All DISCOs are protected by the contract terms and conditions under which they were issued licenses, and it is on record that BEDC has not in any way breached such conditions. According “We shall resist this evil at all costs in the interest of sustainable business practice so that we don’t chase future investors and/or frustrate the gains made thus far in the power sector.

    “We call on the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET) and concerned regulators to clear the air on the needless controversies being stirred to cripple the BEDC under its current management.

    “If we do not get appropriate feedback within seven days of this notice, we shall embark on peaceful procession to these offices for the sake of sanity.”

    TADI noted that the Federal Government is represented on the board of DISCOs, and so it was at its discretion to appoint whoever it deems fit to represent its interest in the DISCOs.

    “It is not the DISCOs that determine who the Federal Government appoints as its representative, contrary to what some naysayers would have us believe in the case of BEDC. It is empirical to note that the respective DISCOs can only distribute the amount of power sold to them by NBET based on the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) allocation allotted them. Thus contrary to wrong assertions, DISCOs are not allotted power based on what their respective states generate, but as determined by NBET using the MYTO allocation system,” it added.

  • BEDC reconnects 42 communities

    The management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) yesterday said it has successfully reconnected 42 communities within its franchise – Delta, Edo, Ondo and Ekiti states, which were hitherto without power supply from the national grid, as at end of November last year.

    The distribution company (DisCo), in statement, declared that the notion that BEDC has not been responsive to community related issues was incorrect, stressing that it will continue to partner with communities without electricity supply in addressing their challenges provided they follow the necessary steps for engagement.

    Out of the figure, Delta State has 25 communities reconnected which include Onicha Uku under Asaba business unit, Ovwodokpoko in Isoko, Ephiephphor in Otor Udu, Idama estate, Phase11 in Asaba and Ogbe-Ohu in Agbor. Others are; Ukpiovmu, Ughevnughe Oghior, Okirika and Otujeremi also under Otor Udu business unit.

     

  • Months after, BEDC restores power supply to Ekiti, Ondo communities

    RESIDENTS of some communities in Ekiti and Ondo states are still savouring the restoration of electricity in their domain by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) on Christmas Day.

    The communities, called “Eka Meta” in Ekiti State, are: Erinijiyan, Ipoleloro and Ikogosi. They were at the end of Ilawe/Aramoko feeder with unreliable power supply for several years.

    But the supply source of the community was changed whilst the feeder and the entire network was rehabilitated and restored at 1.15 p.m on Christmas Day.

    The feat was achieved in collaboration with Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) under the National Independent Power Project (NIPP).

    In neighbouring Ondo State, residents of Ode-Aye in Okitipupa Local Government Area, had lived without electricity for almost seven years.

    But the BEDC restored power supply on Christmas Day after a comprehensive overhaul of facilities by the NDPHC under the NIPP and BEDC.

    It was the first phase of the Ondo South restoration; Okitipupa will be in the next phase.

    Ode Aye monarch, Oba William Akinmusayo Akinlade, hailed workers and management of BEDC for restoring electricity to his domain.

    In company of excited subjects, Oba Akinlade said: “We thank God that after a long time light is now on. We thank BEDC. We thank the workers, management and everybody working in BEDC. God will bless you all. You will not be put into darkness.”

    The BEDC management, led by the Chief State Head for Ondo/Ekiti states, Mrs. Kunbi Labiyi, urged the company’s field officers to ensurie that Ode-Aye residents enjoy electricity before the end of last year.

    BEDC had announced its plan for the ancient town, one of the major communities that suffered electricity deprivation in Ondo South.

    Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu issued a stern directive through the state’s Technical Committee on Power that everything must be done to end blackout, which had enveloped the area for 12 years.

    A a meeting with Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, the BEDC management had assured that power would be restored to the tourism corridor of the state before the end of last year.

    Communities in the tourism hub, which have been without power supply, include: Ikogosi-Ekiti, host of the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort; Ipole-Iloro, the base of Ariata Waterfalls and Erinijiyan-Ekiti.

    BEDC’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mrs. Funke Osibodu, told reporters of the rehabilitation of Ikogosi/Erinijiyan/Ipole-Iloro on Aramoko 33kv feeder.

  • BEDC dispels licence withdrawal rumour

    BEDC refutes fictitious information on license withdrawal message by EDOSCO

    Management of BEDC Electricity PLC (BEDC), has dispelled rumors by some Civil Societies Organization that its operating licence has been withdrawn.

    It urged its customers to disregard comments by the Civil Society groups asking them not to pay electricity bills based on the license withdrawal.

    A press statement issued to newsmen in Benin City and signed by its Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Adekunle Tayo, said the groups were peddling misinformation because the BEDC instituted court cases against some of it’s members for illegal tampering with power equipment.

    Read Also: BEDC, TCN settle rift for consumers’ satisfaction

    Tayo  noted that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) which handles all matters relating to licensing, duly recognized BEDC as the electricity service provider for Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states.

    According to him, “After the licence renewal misinformation turned out to be a hoax, the groups have hbbeen looking for another avenue of smearing the corporate image of BEDC through deliberate falsehood and misinformation of the public especially customers.

    “BEDC therefore advises esteemed customers and good people of Edo state to disregard the false information being peddled by EDOSCO while advising customers to continue to pay their electricity bill in line with what is consumed”.

  • BEDC, TCN settle rift

    The Benin Electricity Distribution Company  (BEDC) and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Benin Zone, have resolved to work together for the satisfaction of customers in the power sector.

    Both firms held a meeting where they agreed to a resolution that they would continue to work together as critical partners in the power sector value chain that are dependent on each other.

    The meeting was held as TCN prepared to move a replacement transformer from Irrua to Benin City to tackle power outage affecting some parts of the metropolis.

    In her address, Managing Director of BEDC, Mrs. Funke Osibodu said the reality of the power sector value chain was that none could survive without the other.

    She advised operators against dabbling into the political undertone of power.

    She said it was better to pool resources together in the network to assist and avoid political undertone.

    Mrs Osibodu stressed the need for the two parties to work together to achieve customer satisfaction and advised both TCN and BEDC workers to be careful by respecting the business and technical components of their operations.

    “Without customer demand there is no DisCo, without TCN passing power to the DisCo there is nothing to distribute and without the GenCos there is no generation. No one leg of the value chain can function without the other hence all parts are important,” she said.

    General Manager, Benin Zone of TCN, Engr. Jimi Adetola, said there must be synergy between the BEDC and the TCN.

    He said the meeting addressed operational issues affecting both parties that are members of the power sector value chain.

  • ANED berates Obaseki over row with BEDC

    ASSOCIATION of Nigeria Electricity Distributors (ANED) has berated Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki for his treatment of Managing Director of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

    A statement by ANED’s Executive Director for Research and Advocacy, Chief Sunday Oduntan, said the body was displeased with Obaseki for ordering BEDC’s MD out of his office when the House of Representatives Committee on Power visited him.

    Obaseki accused the managing director of “failing to meet obligations to electricity consumers in the state”.

    The statement reads: “What is most unfortunate about the whole episode is that there is a misunderstanding about how the power sector works and this has led to the governor’s unfair expectations from BEDC. I cannot also rule out with the upcoming elections and everyone looking for scapegoats, that local politics may be involved in this case and that is unfortunate.

    ICYMI: Obaseki walks BEDC MD out of his office for throwing state into darkness

    “The state generates over 600MW and as such should not be encountering power supply challenges. However, he needs to understand that the power generated at Azura or any other power plant in the country is first sent to the national grid from where it is redistributed to different DisCos for distribution to customers.

    “Benin DisCo is only entitled to nine per cent of the power sent out from the national grid, so it is clear that the DisCo does not have the power to retain the 600MW generated by Azura.

    “More interestingly is the fact that over 40 per cent of this nine per cent is distributed within Edo State as the host community of the DisCo. The other three states in the franchise area – Delta, Ekiti and Ondo – share the remaining 60 per cent. You can see therefore that Edo State enjoys the lion share of what the DisCo gets already. To allocate more to Edo – which is what the governor is advocating for – will be grossly unfair to the other states.”

    Oduntan also said it was unfair to attack a DisCo on record as having the highest number of prepaid meters in the country all to ensure customers get value for their money as well as end the practice of estimated billing.

    An earlier statement by BEDC said the company had completed plans to give out more prepaid meters from the first quarter of 2019 under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) programme of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to further accelerate the metering of consumers.

  • Obaseki walks BEDC MD out of his office for throwing state into darkness

    There was mild drama at the office of the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Tuesday, as the governor walked the Managing Director (MD) of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Mrs. Funke Osibodu, out of his office for failing to meet  obligations to electricity consumers in Edo and throwing the state into darkness for weeks.

    This happened when the governor received members of the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Power led by Hon. Daniel Asuquo, who were in Government House, on a courtesy visit.

    The governor was surprised to see the BEDC boss, whose name  was not on the list of expected guests to Government House, but embedded herself in the National Assembly delegation,  to gain access to the governor, who has been in darkness alongside millions of Edo State residents, for weeks.

    Speaking to the delegation after Mrs. Osibodu had left the gathering, the governor said BEDC has continued to fail in collaborating with the state government to provide stable electricity in the state, instead the company has posed as an obstacle to meeting the goal.

    “BEDC has been an obstacle all the way. They will not provide electricity and will not allow you to get alternative sources of power. The state will not allow it,” the governor said.

    According to him, “As Governor of Edo State, we have lost confidence in BEDC. We don’t want them here. We are in darkness. Let us remain in darkness until we find people who are capable of delivering electricity.  This is our position.”

    The governor said despite the fact that the state generates about 600 to 700 megawatts of electricity, the people are still in darkness, wondering how he is expected to explain the irony to the people, who are well aware that they produce a substantial amount of electricity in the country.

    He noted that BEDC has failed to recognise that they have to be patriotic and responsible to the state and the country but instead they have been noncommittal  about  the issue of power distribution.

    “To assist, we set up electricity committee across the local government areas chaired by the Deputy Governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, with BEDC as member to understand the challenge. But BEDC frustrated our resolve to finding a lasting solution to the issue of providing electricity to our people.”

    Earlier, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Power, Hon. Daniel Asuquo, said they were in the state for an oversight function on the activities of BEDC and other players in the electricity value chain.

    He said Edo State consumes half of daily power supply under the BEDC, noting that the state has the highest number of consumers on the network, which makes it critical to engage with the governor and people of the state on the level of service delivery by players in the value chain.

    “We are here to see how to intervene to ensure that you deliver on your electioneering promises to the people of Edo State as you are answerable to them,” Hon. Asuquo said.

  • Power supply: BEDC not doing enough, says Obaseki

    • Edo gets 40% of power allocation, says BEDC

    Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki yesterday asked the  Managing Director (MD) of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Mrs. Funke Osibodu, out of his office for failing to meet obligations to electricity consumers in the state

    The incident occurred when Obaseki received members of the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Power led by Hon. Daniel Asuquo, who were in Government House, on a visit. The governor took the action because the BEDC boss’ was not listed as one of the expected guests to Government House.

    Speaking to the delegation after Mrs. Osibodu had left the gathering, the governor, according to a media statement from his office, said the BEDC has continued to fail in collaborating with the state government to provide stable electricity in the state, instead the company has posed as an obstacle to meeting the goal.

    “BEDC has been an obstacle all the way. They will not provide electricity and will not allow you to get alternative sources of power. The state will not allow it,” the governor said.

    In a reaction, BEDC said it does not want to join issues with the government, but said the DisCo “remains a responsive and responsible distributor of electricity across the franchise states of Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti committed to serving its customers better.

    “In addition, it is on record that out of the nine per cent allocation that BEDC gets from the national grid, Edo State gets above 40 per cent, while the other three states share the balance. We intend to continue to work towards ensuring that various bottlenecks across the power value chain are eliminated to the benefit of our customers in all our franchise states.”

    BEDC said it would continue to support the good people of Edo State in ensuring that an enabling environment that will create jobs and improvement in the lives of the Edo citizens is sustained.  It should be noted that Edo State has the highest number of prepaid meters all over the country and with the introduction of Meter Asset Provider (MAP) by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory omission (NERC), we shall further accelerate the metering of consumers with effect from first quarter of 2019 when the scheme is expected to kick off, in order to rapidly reduce estimated billing.

     

    As a stop gap on the recent reduction in power supplied to Edo State on some feeders in Central Benin, arrangement was made to connect customers on the affected feeders to existing functional ones in a manner that would not overload the system and to provide supply albeit on limited basis, pending when normal supply will resume after the replacement of the repairs of the faulty transformers.Several announcements have been made on locations affected. We expect normalizing of the situation soonest.

     

    We encourage customers to make use of our existing Customer Complaints Channels when there are issues/complaintswhilst we look forward to serving our customers better.