Ekiti To Get 100,000 Meters For MAP In The Next Two Years – BEDC
Joseph Kanjo
The Management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) PLC, Monday, revealed that it has, under the new Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme, allocated a total of over 100,000 meters of a monthly average of 4,000 units to customers in Ekiti State in the next two years.
Executive Director, Commercial, BEDC, Mr. Abu Ejoor disclosed this at a Media Launch of MAP in Ekiti State held at the state capital, Ado-Ekiti.
Mr. Ejoor told journalists that in Ekiti, metering would be taking off in Ado-Ekiti and Ido-Ekiti and will eventually move into other locations, adding that the roll out of meters will be handled by FLT Energy and Sabrud Conssortium, both designated parties.
He said, “MAPs will carry our meter rollout location by location, route by route and street by street while enumeration is a pre-requisite for meters to be provided under MAP. some of the locations flagged for take-off include: Fajuy Park Area, Similoluwa Area, Similoluwa Area / Teaching Hospital, Ajowa Street, Oriapata, Opposite School of Nursing, Adebayo Area, Adehun Quarters, Olora Area, Ile-ileri, Adehun Quarters, Peace Avenue and Pathfinder Hotel Road among others.”
He stressed further that the MAP Scheme will assist in reducing customers complaints on metering, wrong and estimated billing which he said accounts for over 60 percent of complaints.
Speaking on current reality on power supply in the state, the Executive Director said, an average of 13,432 MWh of electricity is delivered to the state monthly, noting however, that 14 percent of power generated is lost due to poor network infrastructure while about 36 percent of power generated is also lost to commercial theft or illegal consumption.
Major challenges according to him, include; transmission bottlenecks, limitations in rearranging Distribution network to improve power supply and increase in network and equipment vandalisation.
“We implore customers to note that power sector improvement process is a journey and not a race and that with their collective support by prompt payment of bills and honouring of their obligations, we shall get to our desired destination faster” he said.
Ejoor went further to list some recent power improvement projects in Ekiti as Installation and commissioning of 3 N0s 11kv indoor panels at Agric 15MVA injection substation to replace the obsolete ones.
He further listed the commissioning of new CBN, Ado Ekiti 2.5MVA 33/11KV injection substation and two numbers 1.5MVA 11/0.415KV distribution substations within the CBN complex to increase power supply and quality of supply from 6 hours to 12 hours as part of the improvement.
Also speaking, Chief State Head, Ekiti State, Mrs Kunbi Labiyi said BEDC in a bid to support and grow economic activity in Ekiti has approved over 100 projects, adding that the beneficiaries had between 3-6hours hitherto but now access more supply between 10-22hours.
She further said between 2018 and now, BEDC has connected 112 communities without supply in its coverage areas to the national grid, stressing that 19 of such communiies are located in Ekiti State.
“Our customers are enjoined to cooperate with the enumerators who have been going round some of the various locations in Ekiti and most especially the mentioned locations by responding promptly to requests for completion of enumeration form and other steps as this is a precondition for metering.” She added.
