Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has been issued a 14-day ultimatum to improve its electricity supply to consumers and halt over billing or face mass unrest.

Benin residents under the auspices of Edo People Against The Oppressive Tendencies of BEDC, gave the ultimatum while addressing journalists in Benin.

Speaking, Coordinator of the group, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbidi, lamented that several communities have been thrown into darkness between one to six months, and in some cases years because BEDC failed to take responsibility as a distribution company to fix their electricity challenges.

He alleged that some other communities in the state are compelled to buy transformers, poles, and cables to fix their power issues.

Ogbidi further alleged that despite compelling Edo residents to buy transformers, poles, and cables, BEDC forced them to write an undertaking to donate the equipment to the distribution company, and also pay N10-N15 millions for the installations.

He lamented that for years now, consumers in the state have been responsible for the fixing and maintaining of their faulty transformers and equipment for BEDC.

According to him, they even task themselves per house in affected areas, while BEDC still comes up to collect bills at the end of the month.

The coordinator maintained that BEDC has continued to enjoy the estimated billings they churn out for innocent consumers to the tune of thousands even when there is no light thereby extorting the people, consistently adding that they pay for light, and they give them darkness in return.

He therefore demanded BEDC to “stop oppressing Edo people and wake up to its primary responsibility of effectively distribution of power to Edo people, That BEDC should as a matter of urgency restore communities in darkness back to the national grid.”

He also demanded “BEDC must stop compelling communities to buy equipment and donate the same to them before they are connected or issues fixed. BEDC must meter Edo people free of charge and publish beneficiaries of the meters for the purpose of accountability.”

“NERC must wake up to its responsibilities and call BEDC to order and punish the same in so many areas they have contravened the law.

“Edo people be reversed to the normal billing structure irrespective of the bands BEDC are claiming.

He therefore called on the Edo state government, house of assembly, security agencies and other relevant stakeholders to prevail on BEDC on the subject matters.

Responding, the Head, Branding and Corporate Communications of BEDC, Mrs. Evelyn Gbiwen said it is the energy that they get and distribute, adding that the fact that the head office of the company is in Edo, residents of the state are considered more than every other franchise states.

She said it would not be fair enough if they are accusing the company of oppressing the customers in the state.

She noted that the company is in business and not a charitable organization, adding that some of the communities in the state are owing the company up to N7 billion. (The Guardian)

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