Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Nchetachi Chukwuajah
Published on 2024-03-10 19:10:15
The management of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has identified low gas supply to generating companies (GenCos) and scheduled maintenance activities by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) as the main reasons for the poor power supply in its franchise areas. In addition to these factors, the company also highlighted vandalism and theft of electricity infrastructures, as well as payment apathy from customers as other challenges contributing to the issue.
IBEDC emphasized its commitment to finding lasting solutions to the situation, which has resulted in disruptions and inconveniences for residents and businesses in areas such as Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Kwara, and partly in Kogi, Niger, and Ekiti states. The low supply of gas to generating companies has led to a gradual decrease in available generation into the grid, significantly reducing the power available for distribution by IBEDC.
Scheduled maintenance activities conducted by TCN in January and March 2024 also necessitated planned outages in specific areas of the network, impacting the power supply to customers. While these maintenance measures are essential for ensuring the long-term reliability of electricity infrastructure, IBEDC acknowledged the inconvenience caused and apologized for any disruptions experienced by customers.
Vandalism and theft of electricity infrastructures remain major issues affecting power supply, with over 40 incidents recorded in 2024 alone. The theft of valuable assets like transformer oil, cables, and aluminum conductors poses a significant challenge to operations, leading to extended periods of outage for affected communities. Energy theft through illegal connections, meter bypass, and illicit meters further exacerbate the situation, resulting in revenue losses and liquidity problems for the electricity value chain.
Payment apathy from customers was also highlighted as a significant challenge to adequate power supply. Some customers view electricity as a social service and may not prioritize payment, leading to revenue losses for IBEDC. The company urged customers to pay for the hours of supply consumed and outstanding bills to ensure IBEDC’s sustainability and improve power supply.
Efforts are underway to address these challenges, including interventions from the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, to address gas supply issues. IBEDC is also partnering with security agencies to combat energy theft and vandalism, while implementing measures to strengthen infrastructure and explore alternate sources of power to meet the demand within its franchise area.
In conclusion, IBEDC reassured customers of its commitment to improving power supply and addressing the challenges affecting service delivery. By working together with customers, stakeholders, and government agencies, the company aims to overcome these obstacles and provide reliable and efficient electricity services to its franchise areas.
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