AIYEDATIWA OFFICIALLY KICK-STARTS MASS METERING IN ONDO
The electrical bulk metering initiative has been formally launched throughout the state’s eighteen local government areas by Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the governor of Ondo State.
The governor claimed that the event was consistent with his pledge to restructure the electrical industry and lessen the burden that the state’s residents bear in obtaining electricity.
During the O’Datiwa Meters’ inauguration on Tuesday in Akure, the state capital, the governor announced that the initiative will terminate arbitrary and exorbitant electricity bills.
Furthermore, he emphasised that accurate metering was not only a technical requirement but also a fundamental right for all customers, as it would help eliminate the uncertainties and discrepancies that had long affected the billing process. He continued, saying that the initiative was to ensure a transparent, fair, and efficient electricity supply system.
Aiyedatiwa said, āThis programme marks a crucial step in our commitment to providing every citizen with a reliable and equitable electricity billing system. By subsidising 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.
āThis 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.ā
The governor also noted that the transfer of electricity oversight from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to the State Electricity Regulatory Bureau, which happened recently, was a milestone for the state, as the development would allow the state to manage its electricity sector more effectively, tailoring policies to the specific needs of its people.
While announcing that the state was preparing for a venture into power generation, transmission, and distribution, Aiyedatiwa called on distribution and generation companies to collaborate with the state to achieve its goals.
āOur state is open to investors in all areas of power generation, transmission, and distribution. Together, we can ensure that every community in Ondo State is adequately powered.
āThe OāDatiwa Meter programme signifies our unwavering dedication to creating a better future where energy is a source of empowerment and a pillar of equitable development,ā he stated.
The Managing Director of Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Deolu Ijose, who acknowledged the governorās understanding of electricityās critical role in the stateās development, said the purpose of metering was to provide consumers with accurate energy usage, addressing frustrations over inflated bills.
Ijose pledged that the BEDC would collaborate with the government to guide the process and urged the people of Ondo State to collaborate with the BEDC.