UCH, IBEDC differ on returning hospital to Band B

The University College Hospital, Ibadan (UCH) has reportedly begged the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to return it to Band B, claiming that the tertiary hospital could no longer sustain the N70-80 million monthly bill on Band A.

However, its Public Relations Officer, Funmi Adetuyibi, yesterday, dismissed the word, ‘begged’, but explained that the college rather requested the power company to take it to Band B, saying the request was made for sustainability.

Last month, UCH experienced outages due to a N3.1 billion debt, disrupting services, after being disconnected by the IBEDC.  A similar challenge was witnessed in March, which sparked protests from patients.

For over two weeks, the university grappled with persistent blackouts, which severely affected its operations. The power cut, which also occurred in October, resulted from an unpaid electricity debt of approximately N400 million, part of a larger outstanding balance of N3.1 billion it was said to have owed IBDEC since 2019.

Reacting to the UCH’s request, the spokesperson for IBEDC, Busolami Tunwase, stated that the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) was the only institution that could move a customer from one band to another.

Tunwase said: “The UCH has, nevertheless, been at the Band B. The level of power supply will determine the Band each customer will be. However, it is the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) that can take customers to Bands, not the Distribution Companies (DisCos).”