IBEDC earmarks N4.5bn for enumeration of consumers, equipment

The management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) says it has earmarked over N4.5 billion for the enumeration of consumers and equipment in its areas of coverage.

Mr Dele Ayodele, the Deputy Managing Director, IBEDC, made the remarks in an interview with our correspondent in Lagos.

Ayodele said that the cost would cover its area of franchise including Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Kwara, as well as parts of Ekiti, Niger and Kogi.

“At present, we do not know who our customers are and who are not; we are just gambling.

“Though, enumeration is expensive, we have to know our consumers and equipment attached to them,’’ the managing director said.

Ayodele said that the enumeration, which had commenced in Ibadan, would gradually get to other areas.

He said that the exercise has a time limit of two years.

According to him, when we started operation, we rolled out 1.2 million bills, but we were able to deliver only 700,000 to consumers.

“We found out that most of the meters we inherited from the defunct PHCN, some have address, but no name; some have account number, but no name.

“Many of them are even duplicated. Recently, we ran a pilot test in Monatan area of Ibadan where we have 42,000 customers; there are more than 115,000 houses there.

“It is impossible to say that less than 45,000 consumers don’t have supply.

“They have supply; it is either they are illegal or legalised thieves.

“This is what we want to guide against with the enumeration,” he said.