Follow Us on Google
By Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
The Edo State Government has begun consultations to replace bulk electricity billing in communities with individual customer accounts and, eventually, meters across its 18 local government areas.
Commissioner for Power, Paul Usenbo, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting in Benin, saying the exercise would improve transparency and accountability in electricity consumption and billing.
He said bulk billing left many households without separate accounts or meters, making it difficult to establish individual consumption and a direct relationship with the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).
The exercise, he explained, would involve customer enumeration and validation, creation of individual accounts and deployment of meters to eligible consumers.
“Individual metering provides greater transparency in consumption and billing, while giving customers proper visibility and control over their electricity usage,” he said.
Other News
Usenbo said the government would coordinate the process and help resolve issues within its mandate, while BEDC would handle customer enumeration, validation and account creation.
The Edo State Metering Programme and its private-sector partners would provide a pathway for eligible customers to obtain meters, he added.
He urged community leaders and residents to provide accurate information during enumeration and raise concerns, saying cooperation among communities, BEDC, councils and regulators was essential.
Chairman of the Edo State Electricity Regulatory Commission, Shittu Shaibu, urged providers to ensure electricity supply and customers to allow their homes to be metered.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of BEDC Subco, Henry Dafe Onovwaka, pledged support and prepaid meters for communities ready to migrate to individual metering.
