Ondo rolls out subsidized meters to eliminate inflated billing

The Ondo State Government has rolled out subsidized meters to eliminate arbitrary and estimated electricity bills in the state.

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Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa while inaugurating the O’Datiwa Meters, said the initiative will enhance electricity mass metering across the state, adding that it will aid residents to have faster and easier access to subsidized meters.

Speaking at the launch event, held at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office in Akure, the state capital, Aiyedatiwa disclosed that the state was the first in the country to operationalize power sector law.

The governor stressed that accurate metering is not only a technical necessity but a fundamental right for all consumers, as it will help eliminate the uncertainties and discrepancies that have long affected the billing process.

He said: “This program marks a crucial step in our commitment to providing every citizen with a reliable and equitable electricity billing system. By subsidizing the meters, the government aims to address energy theft and inefficient billing practices, ensuring that residents of Ondo State pay only for the energy they consume.

“This is a promise to the people that their hard-earned money will be spent justly, and they will receive the energy they pay for without hindrance.”

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Aiyedatiwa also reeled out a recent milestone in the state’s regulatory powers with the transfer of electricity oversight from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to the State Electricity Regulatory Bureau (SERB). The transfer will allow the state to manage its electricity sector more effectively, tailoring policies to the specific needs of its people.

The governor revealed that the state is preparing for an ambitious venture into power generation, transmission, and distribution. He called on both distribution and generation companies to collaborate with the state in achieving its goals.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Energy, Johnson Alabi, who commended Aiyedatiwa for his vision in transforming the energy sector in the state, emphasized that the initiative would ensure consumer protection, crediting the governor as the driving force behind the program.

Alabi, who said the state government has set a new standard for consumer protection, improving the quality of service and enhancing the overall well-being of the state’s residents, thanked the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) for its support in bringing the project to fruition.

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The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Rasaq Obe, echoed the importance of the initiative, commending the governor for backing it from the outset and demonstrating his dedication to improving the lives of the people.

Deolu Ijose, the Managing Director of BEDC, also acknowledged the governor’s understanding of electricity’s critical role in the state’s development. He explained that the purpose of metering is to provide consumers with accurate energy usage, addressing frustrations over inflated bills.

Light-Ariyomo, Chairman of the Ondo State Electricity Regulatory Transition Committee, described the development as novel, stressing that Ondo has become the first state to operationalize the power sector law in Nigeria, while Governor Aiyedatiwa is the first Nigerian governor to make meters available to residents.

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