BENIN, AUGUST 1, 2018 – Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) says it has added a total of 1,694 distribution transformers to ensure power supply improvement in Edo state since the new management took over in 2013.
The company which disclosed this in a Customer Information Update on Edo State, also added that power availability has also improved from two hours in 2013 to between 6-10 hours in some locations within Edo state with severe infrastructure limitations, including Okada, Oluku, part of Sokponba, Evbuotubu, Oliha and Siluko.
BEDC stated that improved power was also recorded from eight hours to between 12-15 hours for locations with more improved infrastructure such as Auchi, Government Reserved Areas (GRA), Ugbowo, Okhoro and new Benin in Benin City.
According to the update: “ Some of these improvements can be seen in large companies, hotels, teaching hospital, central hospital, universities, government establishments including Government House, High court and State House of Assembly.
“Most importantly several customers can now predict when they will have power supply based on our regimented load management schedule which are published.”
On power supply to communities, BEDC disclosed that it has connected 12 communities who were without power supply before the takeover including Aduhanhan, Orhua, Evbuehkhae, Evbuovbuke, Ogbekpen, Ekuobore and Ikhueniro among others.
The company also said that 16 communities have had their transformers replaced, while 11 transformers donated to communities have also been commissioned.
On the Ossiomo power project, BEDC stated: “To the extent permitted by applicable legal and regulatory framework, BEDC has been and continues to be willing to work with all such third parties including Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company to increase power supply within the ambit of the law, without compromising quality of power supply, affordability and safety of our customers.”
It said that it has achieved over 65 percent metering of customers and was committed to closing the gap in its coverage areas and ensuring credible billing for power consumed.
“NERC has introduced a new process of using third parties as Meter Asset Provider (MAP) to accelerate the metering process. This should help substantially to eliminate the gap in due course. Estimated billing will continue to subsist in locations where 100 percent metering is not yet achieved as a means of computing bill for electricity consumed.’ It added.
