By Anthony Ojo.
Despite the commencement of the sharing of pre-paid meters to electricity consumers by some Distribution Companies in Nigeria, the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC has not started the process.
Ekiti is one of the four states under the BEDC jurisdiction.
In this report, Correspondent Anthony Ojo samples the opinion of some residents of Ekiti state on the delay in distribution of the meters.
On October 30 this year, the federal government commenced the sharing of free pre-paid electricity meters to Nigerians through Eko, Ikeja, Kano and Kaduna distribution companies.
But the case is different on the part of Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, as the sharing of the meters has not started, the development which has become source of worry to the people.
First to speak is a legal practitioner, Mr. Temitope Omotayo who wondered what was delaying the distribution of the pre-paid meters in Ekiti and other states under the BEDC.
Another resident, Mr. Stanley Familoye described the continued usage of estimated billing for electricity consumers as outdated.
Also, Mrs. Blessing Ololade noted that many of the electricity consumers have been paying for what they did not use, saying if the meters are given to the people, the amount they were paying before will reduce.
Mr. Omotayo, Familoye and Mrs. Ololade however appealed to concerned authorities to prevail on BEDC to ensure that the meters are distributed to the consumers, for them to get value for their money.
When contacted, the Corporate Affairs Officer of BEDC, Ekiti state office, Mr. Kayode Brown confirmed the receipt of ninety thousand, one hundred and twenty seven meters meant for the four states under the BEDC.
Mr. Brown said the electricity meters would soon be launched, after which the mode of distribution would be decided.
