Ekiti to partner Disco on quality services

The Ekiti State Commissioner for Public Utilities and Infrastructure, Deji Adesua, has expressed the state’s commitment to partner with Benin Electricity Distribution Plc(BEDC) in order to achieve its corporate objectives, even as he canvassed prompt payment of electricity bills by citizens of the state.

He gave this assurance during a Town Hall meeting held at Olojido Palace, Ido-Ekiti.Adesua according to a statement from BEDC, said the plea for electricity payment on regular basis was informed by the fact that responsibility for the collection of revenue shared by the entire power sector value chain rested on BEDC hence only prompt payment of bills can facilitate the realisation of such objectives.

He noted that the idea of prompt payment of electricity would enable BEDC serve the people of Ekiti State better since it was only one of the company’s four states of operation.

Adesua also requested that BEDC should outsource the procurement of prepaid meters to licensed contractors since according to him, it is the only way to ascertain the customers’ actual consumption.

Chief State Head, Ondo/Ekiti, Ernest Edgar, said BEDC is entitled to only nine per cent of whatever power is generated in the country and this will be shared among the four states under the company’s coverage.

He stated that the need for prompt payment by the customer was the only antidote for more power to the customer.Besides, he explained the nature of distribution of electricity, which he said is naked, could only explain why most people steal illegal connection or hanging of wire at night.

The district accountant explained to the audience different payment channels available to customers, which according to him, include Point of Sales (POS), commercial banks, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) or online payments.

He advised customers not to give cash out but rather use any of these means made available by BEDC.In another development, as the country explores the diversification of the economy as a means of ensuring national survival following the continued drop in the prices of crude oil, the Chief State Head, noted that electricity is a crucial enabler for sustainable development and growing prosperity in the area of agriculture. BEDC, he insisted was an enabler and willing to partner with government, citizens and potential investors on economic re-generation.

Edgar, who made the assertion said that there was hardly any branch of agriculture, which electricity should not be employed.He made the remarks in a paper titled “Electricity as an Agricultural Enabler in Ekiti State, which he presented at the Ekiti State Agricultural Summit, held at the Adetiloye Hall, Trade Fair Complex, Iyin Road in Ado Ekiti.

He highlighted the various uses of electricity in agriculture, which includes fertilizer production, Irrigation, storage and agro-allied Industries.According to him, the various roles the BEDC will play in agricultural Industrialisation of the state will include construction of dedicated feeders embedded generation and advisory services on locations where constant power is assured.

He said that BEDC was ready and willing to partner with Ekiti State to re-generate her economy through agriculture and enjoined Ekiti State Government to partner with BEDC on how to strategically locate an agro allied industry where quality and constant power supply can be guaranteed.

Edgar noted that electricity was the prime mover of the economy of any nation, as there can be no industrialisation without it, adding that it was imperative at this point that the economy is diversified with agriculture being in the forefront.He said: “We must join forces to power agriculture to empower Ekiti State and ultimately propel the nation”.