ODSG to invest $5million in power Network, takes over from BEDC
Ondo State Government has expressed its readiness to take over electricity distribution Network from the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) Plc for better service delivery to its citizenry.
It has also disclosed that the some of five Million US dollars have been earmarked for the first phase of the project
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Power, Engr. Johnson Alabi made this know at a meeting with the BEDC/BEOL held yesterday in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Mr Alabi expressed dissatisfaction that the electricity company has not been able to perform maximally to meet the State government’s expectation on electricity provision which is adversely affecting the citizenry and particularly investors in the state.
” Power situation has not been at its best and we have engaged them in various foras and the improvement is not as fast as the state government wants it to be,”
” We find out that the company lacks capacity financially, which led to its constraints based on that, Ondo state government is prepared to take over the distribution networks in the state so that electricity can be brought to the door step of all consumers ” he stated.
He noted that the parties have agreed to set up a committee to be given a time frame to submit a comprehensive report.
Alabi reiterated the commitment of the State government to give its people power adding that the state has made money ready to invest into the distribution to meet the demand of the people.
According to him, the law permits the state to take over and pay them what he called “distribution use of the system” charge for their network infrastructure
This he affirmed would allow the state to decide to run with the consultants and other investors so that the state can invest significantly to improve the distribution network.
Earlier in a report to update the stakeholders, the Coordinator of the Ondo State Electricity Regulatory Bureau, Engr. Stephen Bolawole described the operation of the Benin Electricity Ondo Limited (BEDOL) as operating illegally for their inability to effect the accepted agreement as required to operate.
Bolawole cited several provisions of electricity law, noting that the state’s regulations appear to be unfamiliar to the company.
In his reaction the BEDC , Chief Commercial Officer, Mr Akinleye Ogunleye said the company has taken some giant stride for better improvement, noting that they are open for collaborative meetings for better services.
While expressing their commitment to uninterrupted power supply in the state, he noted that the company is in its transition position which has been a challenge to meet expectations before now.
According to him, they hope to franchise their arrangement which he declared will follow due procedures and processing to allow investors to come in for a robust discussion for a better operation.
” There are some areas that are underserved but it is not out of place that investor is coming in to manage the situation in that area for betterment of electricity ,” he said.
Present at the meeting included among several others, Head of Strategy and Corporate coordinating officer, Mr Afolabi Opeooluwa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Alhaji Olabode Yusuf and the Chief Executive Officer of Enerixone Limited, Mr Adebayo Adesina
