By Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
In a bid to bridge the metering gap and ensure all customers have meters, the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has announced the availability of meters for acquisition.
This follows IBEDC’s recent acquisition of new meters through the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme.
In a statement on Tuesday, IBEDC’s Acting Managing Director, Engineer Francis Agoha, said the initiative would improve service delivery and address concerns about estimated billing among its valued customers.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that the number of customers on estimated billing rose by 10%, from 5.83 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 6.43 million in the first quarter of 2024.
The NBS report also stated that IBEDC recorded the highest number of estimated billing customers, increasing from 1.37 million in the last quarter of 2023 to 1.41 million in the first quarter of 2024.
Agoha encouraged customers to register for meter acquisition through the dedicated platform at msms.ibedc.com. He added that the platform, designed under the MAP scheme, ensures a seamless and secure metering experience for all IBEDC customers.
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In light of recent reports concerning unauthorised individuals collecting cash payments for meters and other services, Agoha strongly advised IBEDC customers against making such payments to third parties.
“To safeguard your transactions, we recommend visiting our official website at msms.ibedc.com for meter registration and payments,” he emphasised.
He added that the company provides customers with multiple secure payment options, including IBEDCpay, USSD, 24-hour Self-Service Kiosks, IRecharge, and Fets Wallet, to facilitate convenient and secure transactions.
For customers with limited access to online services who must make cash payments, Agoha stressed the importance of obtaining a valid receipt for every transaction.
“Ensure the receipt issued bears the customer copy to prevent any potential fraud,” he added.
Agoha also enjoined all customers to exercise caution and avoid engaging with unauthorised agents claiming to represent IBEDC. He advised customers to contact IBEDC customer service directly for further inquiries or assistance.