IBEDC spends N5.5bn on metering, network development
’Femi Asu
The Managing Director, Ibadan
Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Mr. John Donnachie, said the
company had spent a total of N4.5bn on metering and N1bn on equipment
for network development.
He said the new equipment included a
total of 210 11kVA panels and 14 units of 33KV circuit breakers, which
would be used for some of the 122 substations within its franchise
coverage area.
Donnachie stated this at a briefing in
Ibadan after the tour of the Eleyele 2x15MVA 33/11KV injection
substation and the display of the new panels and circuit breakers bought
for network development.
He said, “We are focused on metering and
we will ensure that we develop proper metering programmes for our
customers so that we can get out of estimated billing, and that is going
to take some time. We have spent about N4.5bn on metering so far this
year, and we will continue to drive this progress.
“The other key element is the network
development, and what we are here to do today is to share what we are
trying to do in this regard. You are going to see investment of over
N1bn that just arrived in order to enhance customer service through
network stabilisation and network development.
Donnachie said the IBEDC had put in place a new billing system to improve customer service.
Commenting on the liquidity problem in
the sector, he said, “Our collection this month was N3.5bn but we should
be collecting N4.5bn. A minimum of 56 per cent of our people are not
paying, either they are not paying or they are bypassing the meter. We
know we need to solve the issue of estimated billing and metering, but
it is not a quick fix.”
He said the cost of running the
business had increased dramatically, adding, “My bill last month from
the generator was N5.7bn, compared to N3bn in May. I could only charge
N6bn to the customers. So, if I collected 100 per cent of everything
that I billed, I will not be able to pay salaries with the money left
over.
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