The Nation Newspaper

Tag: BEDC

  • BEDC tackles low supply, estimated billing

    Benin Electricity Distribution Plc (BEDC) has resolved about 128,000 issues  on low supply and bill estimation, its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, has said.

    She made this known tduring the inauguration of the company’s Asaba Customer Complaints Forum Office in Delta State.

    She said the office opening would re-invigorate BEDC’s commitment to improve customer service standard in Delta, despite the challenges confronting distribution companies (DisCos).

    Among the challenges, she said, were low power generation to the grid, metering gaps, transmission limitations, low payment culture and vandalisation of power infrastructure.

    “The power sector is a value chain comprising generation, transmission, distribution and ultimately the customer utilisation. This implies a string of interdependency among the four tiers. While the customer is king, he must pay for services rendered to him to ensure that the entire value chain continues to provide good service,” she said.

    Mrs Osibodu, represented by the Executive Director, Commercial, Abu Ejoor, added that as part of efforts at resolving complaints on estimated billing and to assist customer self-manage and regulate their electricity consumption, BEDC has also introduced the billing calculator format.

    This, she explained, is for customers to estimate their billing from consumption, adding that with it customers could calculate the installed electrical load in their premises with available power supplied and use same to crosscheck the billing as well as manage the use of appliances that consume heavy load.

    The Commissioner, Consumer Affairs, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr Moses Arigu, said the opening of the  Forum office could not have come at a better time when customers within the BEDC network were facing several challenges, including safety issues, disconnection of communities, and estimated billing issues.

    Arigu noted that though BEDC holds a 30 per cent deficit in metering, the implementation of its meter roll out plan with the performance agreement would inject an average of about 100,000 meters yearly over the next five years, thereby closing the gap in the next three years based on the roll out plan.

    He confirmed that the Commission has wound down the Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) programme, assuring that efforts were being made to ensure that the pace of metering continues using other schemes currently being reviewed.

    He congratulated the newly appointed forum members, including Oghene-Ovie Ukochovwera representing Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Abraham Ifode from Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Mr. Solomon Ejenavi Akperiojire from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Peter Okolie of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Mr. Ugochukwu Santino Ozah from the non-governmental organisation (NGO) sub -sector. He asked them to approach their tasks with equity and patriotism.

    Delta State Commissioner for Energy, Newworld Safugha, who represented the Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and Senator James Manager, Chairman, Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, said the danger of illegal connections and overbilling were of concern to the government, urging the forum to address them.

  • BEDC honours Idahagbon community

    Benin Electricity Distribution Plc (BEDC) has honoured Idahagbon Community in Oko Central area of Benin, Edo State, for its role in the arrest and prosecution of two electricity vandals, saying if all communities emulated and exhibited such responsibility, vandalism would be eradicated from the power sector.

    Its Managing Director/CEO, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, stated this at a ceremony to honour community leaders and youths who caught the vandals and handed them over to the police for prosecution.

    She stated that even though it is the responsibility of distribution companies (DisCos) or law enforcement agencies to ensure electricity equipment such as transformers were safe and free from vandalisation, the best situation will exist when communities take up responsibility and become vigilant over power equipment within their neighbourhood.

    “We will all sink and be swallowed by this monster (vandalisation) if we fold our hands and say or do nothing about it. Yes, some might argue that it is the responsibility of the DisCos or law enforcement agencies to ensure that this equipment are safe and free from vandalisation. We and the law enforcement agencies have accepted this responsibility but even at that, the truth is that the police and BEDC cannot be everywhere we have transformers,” said Osibodu, who was represented by Chief State Head, Edo, Mr. Fidelis Obishai.

  • BEDC restores power to Ogwashi-Uku seven years after

    Ogwashi-Uku, the headquarters of Aniocha-South Local Government area of Delta State, was aglow at the weekend with the restoration of electricity in the area, by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) after seven years of power cut from the national grid.

    According to BEDC, the power supply will be extended to all residents of Ogwashi-Uku in due course as more transformers will be installed and energised in the next few days as enumeration revalidation, network rehabilitation and safety checks continue in earnest.

    The restoration process started with a town hall meeting organised by members of Ogwashi-Ukwu D-Forum in collaboration with the management of BEDC led by the Chief State Head (Delta), Mr. Ernest Edgar, the Business Manager, Asaba Business Unit, Adekola Abiodun and his technical team, among others.

    The town hall meeting, which had in attendance delegates from the various quarters and sub-clans that make up Ogwashi- Uku and environs, was meant to brief the residents on the extent of job done so far,  which include the completion of re-enumeration in some areas, the installation of transformer statistical meters as initiated by the company at no cost to the community.

    Edgar expressed shock at the level of vandalism of the network in spite of rehabilitation work carried out by BEDC in June 2016 and pleaded with the community leaders to work with the company to educate the public on the need to protect the equipment.

    He further emphasised the need to re-orientate and sensitise the residents through safety lectures as delivered by BEDC Safety Manager, Mr. Gilbert. Nweke who enlightened the delegates on basic safety tips to be disseminated to their people in readiness for the gradual restoration of power in phases to the various areas.

    The Director-General of D-Forum Pastor Joseph T. U. Nwadiashi while acknowledging the meters, praised BEDC for keeping fate with the community in line with Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC) directive after many years of waiting. He pleaded that the company should keep to its promise of ensuring that within a short period all parts of Ogwashi-uku will be supplied with electricity.

    Edgar also seized the opportunity to educate the people of Ogwashi-Uku on the NERC directive on the methodology for estimated billing, said  that individual estimated bills would be delivered to each customer based on the global readings from the statistical meters installed on each transformer feeding the respective customers connected to the same transformer.

    He explained the “Weighted Average Cluster load” approach and urged for cooperation with the enumerators currently carrying out revalidation and load audit as customers were under-stating their load capacity and in some cases out-rightly refusing access to the enumerators to assess their homes.

  • Court jails BEDC transformer vandals in Benin

    Two people – John Joshua (25) and Yakubu Idris (28) have been jailed for vandalising a transformer belonging to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

    This is coming a few months after two family members were jailed in Koko, Delta State for stealing electricity cables.

    They were apprehended by community members while vandalising a transformer located at off Oko Central Road, Benin City, Edo State.

    Chief Magistrate Mrs I.U. Iyoha of an Oredo Magistrate’s Court, sentenced Joshua and Idris to six months imprisonment after finding them gulty on a two-count charge of “malicious damage and stealing.” After being charged by the Police, they pleaded guilty and were sentenced to six months imprisonment with an option of N70,000 fine each.

    Last December, two persons – Friday Tega and Tega Ajaino – were sentenced to three years, and nine months two years imprisonment with hard labour.

    The accused were convicted by a Magistrate’s Court in Koko near Sapele, Delta state for vandalising a BEDC 33KVA line.

    The accused who were jailed without any option of fine after being found guilty of cutting the 50mm earthing wire for grounding channel iron on 33kva line, in addition to vandalising 12 towers. The vandals were caught by the customers and community members.

  • BEDC official ‘electrocuted’ in Ondo

    A middle- aged man believed to be an official of the Ondo Business District of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has been reportedly electrocuted.

    The incident, it was learnt, occurred at the Government Reserved Area (GRA) at Itanla on the Ondo/Akure highway.

    Eyewitnesses said the deceased came to the area to connect power to a new building in the area.

    His body was hanging from an electrical pole in front of the building.

    His motorcycle was seen under a mango tree as sympathisers discussed the incident.

    BEDC officials were said to have come with some officers from Igba Divisional Police Station to remove the body.

    BEDC Business Manager in Ondo Chris Enuamaka claimed that the victim, who was a casual worker, was on illegal duty in the area.

    Enuamaka said the company would release an official statement after its investigation.

  • BEDC reviews operations

    BEDC reviews operations

    • Pledges boost in customer experience

    In line with statutory requirements, Benin Electricity Distribution Plc. (BEDC) has become the first electricity distribution company in Nigeria to review operations.The firm held its 2013, 2014 and 2015 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Benin.
    Its Chairman, Victor GboladeOsibodureaffirmed the commitment of the firm to improve customer experience on its network.
    MrOsibodu according to a statement from BEDC, gave the assurance while addressing shareholders at the AGM held at the company’s head office in Benin, Edo State.
    “As we commence the New Year, we project better performance as we strive to ensure that we improve further on customer experience.
    “To our shareholders, we promise to create a world class institution by being the leading electricity distribution provider enabling sustainable economic and technological growth in Africa and adding value to all stakeholders,” he said.
    The chairman commended management and staff of BEDC for their tireless effort in turning around the company in spite of the initial take off and transitional challenges, noting that the result of all this is manifested in the improvements in the operational performance over the last three years.
    He added that most noteworthy also was the fact that the performance of the team resulted in various awards on safety and cash management.
    MrOsibodu also lauded the inputs of the Technical /Commercial and the Finance/Risk/Audit Board committees in ensuring effective guidance and policy direction of the management process.
    BEDC is one out of the 11 successor distribution companies (DisCos) created following the unbundling and privatization of state-owned Power Holding Company of Nigeria Plc. (PHCN). It is the joint venture between Vigeo Power Limited and the Government of Nigeria represented by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the Ministry of Finance Inc.
    The Vigeo Power Consortium which became Vigeo Power Ltd acquired 60 per cent shareholding as the new core investor in Benin Disco and took over the asset on November 1, 2013. Vigeo Power shareholders consist of Vigeo Holdings Ltd, Global Utilities Management Co. Ltd (GUMCO), African Finance Corporation (AFC), Design Innovations Ltd (DIL) and VHL International (VHLI). The technical managers are, VIPL Global Services Ltd (operating as administrators of Vigeo Power Ltd), engaged Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (TPDDL) and GUMCO to jointly handle the technical and commercial management of BEDC.
    Since inception, BEDC had resolved over 60,000 complaints through the customer complaints unit, using centralised Call Centre and complaints tracking software; and has also resolved the backlog of metering requests at takeover, having installed over 120,500 meters.
    On network improvement, and upgrade, the company has added new injection substations to provide relief to overloaded network and provided various distribution transformers; constructed dedicated distribution lines for commercial and industrial customers, including replacement of failed power transformers.
    In addition, customers can now make payments for their electricity consumption in any bank location across the country as well as through selected ATMs, online internet payment platforms and through selected ATMs and Agents using Point of Sale (POS) terminals.

  • Protest rocks Delta town over power outage

    Business activities were paralysed in parts of Sapele, Delta State, on Wednesday as hundreds of residents protested the power outage in the town during the yuletide.

    The protesters, who were led by a clergyman, Rev Father Ekaboh Akusu of St Patrick’s Catholic Church, expressed sadness that the city was thrown into darkness during the Christmas and Boxing Day celebrations.

    The Nation gathered that economic and social activities within the sleepy town have been brought to their knees due to prolonged electricity blackout.

    Eyewitnesses said the protesters denounced the inefficiency of the Benin Electricity Development Company (BEDC).

    They carried placards with inscriptions like: “We say no to darkness in Sapele,” and “It is evil to put us in darkness this period,” among others.

    The protesters lamented that while other parts of the country were bubbling in celebrations, the famous town was like a ghost town.

    “BEDC or whatever it is called is grossly ineffective and inefficient. Nothing proves this than their inability to give people light at this time of the year,” one of the protesters said.

  • BEDC tops metering roll-out rating by NERC

    BEDC tops metering roll-out rating by NERC

    • Plans loss reduction

    Benin Electricity Distribution Plc (BEDC) has emerged tops in metering progress performance rating report among Distribution Companies (DisCos) carried out by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in its second quarter 2016 state of affairs of the electricity supply industry.

    According to a statement, the report, which came on the heels of additional 100,000 metering plan for the remainder of this year announced at the recent power sector stakeholders it hosted in Benin,  showed BEDC scoring 65.30 per cent to emerge overall lead performer in metering progress aspect of the report which indicates the percentage of customers metered.

    BEDC had demonstrated its consciousness of the metering gaps existing across its various customer classes and had commenced the process to cover the metering gap for existing customers in its area of operations. The company has been proactive in installation of meters having installed over 120,500 meters since takeover. It has taken advantage of both the Industry CAPMI Scheme and own funded meters. More than 90,000 out of these have been installed in 2016 alone.

  • BEDC wins safety awards

    Benin Electricity Distribution Plc. (BEDC) has  bagged two awards; African Quality Achievement Award (AQAA) as the Most Innovative Power Distribution Company in Africa in 2016 and the 9ja Safe Merit award respectively.

    These awards are in recognition of its excellent commitment to quality improvement in electricity supply across the network and for actively promoting health, safety and environment as cornerstone of business performance.

    AQAA, according to a statement from the power firm, is an annual event initiated at celebrating leadership innovation and creativity in quality management in Africa.

    The quality award, is aimed at identifying, recognising and rewarding companies, personalities and products that apply quality culture and  management best practices to the analysis, planning and implementation and control of policies designed to achieve corporate objectives in both profit and non-profit making organisations in Africa.

    It was organised and supported by African Quality Institute (AQI), Chartered institute of Quality Management of Nigeria (CIQM) and African Quality Organisation (AQO).

  • BEDC to install additional 100,000 meters

    BEDC to install additional 100,000 meters

    Conscious of the metering gaps existing across various customer classes, Benin Electricity Distribution Plc (BEDC) said it plans to install additional 100,000 meters for domestic and commercial customers this year.

    Speaking at a press briefing during the 7th Monthly Power Pector Stakeholders Meeting, which it hosted at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), along Sapele road, Benin, Edo State, the firm said it would strive to achieve 100 per cent metering of all industrial and Maximum Demand (MD) customers by November ending.

    Its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. FunkeOsibodu said the firm will also achieve the metering of at least 2,000 distribution transformers in order to adequately account for energy billing to customers.

    “The company has been proactive in installation of meters having installed over 120,500 meters since takeover of the company. We have taken advantage of both the industry CAPMI  Scheme and own funded meters. More than 25,000 out of these have been installed this year alone,” Mrs. Osibodu who was represented by the Chief State Head, Edo, Engr. Fidelis Obishai, was quoted to have said in a statement yesterday.

    BEDC she noted, has also commenced some projects to ensure the health of the customers’ meters including 100 per cent recertification and rectification of existing MD customers; massive meter sealing exercise for domestic and commercial customers, prepaid meters recertification  and rectification exercise, and shifting meters from customer premise to external visible locations.

    Speaking on enforcement and network monitoring team, she said the objective was to ensure that connections to the network were in line with safety standards, and to ensure only paying customers were on the network, and that by-pass or illegal connections were not allowed on the network.

    She added that customers who have not paid their bills within 10 days of the delivery of bill will be disconnected from the network during this process, saying ”in addition to customers who have by-passed their meters by removing part or all of the electricity load from reading on the meter would also be disconnected, except upon payment of the appropriate fines and reconnection fee.”

    “BEDC prides itself as being committed to the continued provision of improved service delivery to its customers while ensuring that connection to its network for power supply connections is not dangerous to the health and safety of the public. The provision of appropriate safety standards as well as the education of all customer is thus critical in this process,” she said.

    She affirmed that since inception, BEDC has embarked on series of improvement exercises in the areas of enumeration, payment channels, customer care, enforcement and monitoring, billing and metering among others, stressing that the improvement implemented in phases were further enhanced during the 2016 operating year.

    According to  Mrs. Osibodu, BEDC has also commenced the installation and activation of nearly 2000 transformers across its network as part of the process to improve quality of power supply.