BEDC berates grid instability

Managing Director/CEO of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Mrs Funke Osibodu, has raised fears about consistent instability of the national grid saying that between January and July this year, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) national grid has been highly unstable with over 2,000 outages.
This she said has prompted interruptions in BEDC’s network coverage areas of Delta, Edo, Ekiti and Ondo, causing affected customers dissatisfactions.
However, she said that notwithstanding the supply interruptions, the company was able to record several improvement initiatives, which impacted positively on power availability to customers in all the four states within its franchise area.
She noted that recent information from National Bureau Office of statistics stated that BEDC has the highest number of meters amongst all the 11 electricity distribution companies.
Commenting on how the firm had been of service to its esteemed customers, the BEDC boss said: “In Delta State, we restored electricity supply to over 54 Communities including Ibusa, Ogwashi-Uku, Ubulu-Uku, Isselu-Uku (ongoing), Ogunu, Otor-Udu, Emadaja, Iwhrekekan, Mosogar, Onyobru Water Side Community.
In addition, in order to enhance security, various streetlight projects were commissioned that are providing 24 hours supply covering over 20 km in Asaba across major urban roads such as Mariam Babangida way, Ibusa to Koka Junction, Illa road to DELSU Anwai Campus, Government Core Area, Interbua, Ezenei Road, Nnebisi-Dennis Osadebe Road to Abraka, Okpanam Road and locations in Effurun area – Jakpa Road, Airport Road, NPA Expressway, DSC Round, Sokoh Estate road, Refinery Road, PTI road.
“In Edo State, power supply has also improved from 2hours in 2013 to 6-10 hours for locations with severe infrastructure limitations such as Okada, Oluku, part of Sokponba, Evbuotubu, Oliha and Siluko, all in Benin, there has been improvement from 6hours to 12-15hours for locations with more improved infrastructure including Auchi, Edo North, GRA, Ugbowo, Okhoro and New Benin.” Besides, she added that while “there is 18 -24hours power for commercial customers on dedicated lines involving 23 hotels, several banks, eateries, shopping mall and Government establishments including Central Hospital, Edo State House of Assembly Complex, High Courts, Government House.