“The planned disruption of electricity for these two months imposes an unacceptable economic, financial, and social burden on the citizens of Ekiti State, and we completely reject this plan,” the Commissioner stated.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, the Ekiti State Government rejected the Benin Electricity Distribution Company’s (BEDC) plan to cut power for 23 days over July and August, arguing that the cost to the state’s residents was too high.<\/p>\n
BEDC announced the planned outages through radio and social media platforms for certain periods in July and August. However, in a letter dated June 30, the state Commissioner for Public Utility, Mobolaji Aluko, addressed to the MD\/CEO of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Abuja, the MD\/CEO of BEDC, Benin-City, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Company (NERC), Abuja, he noted that there was no direct communication with the state government about this plan.<\/p>\n
The letter, titled “Re: Notification of power disruption\/outage in Ado-Ekiti and Akure for two months (July, August 2024) for nine hours each day (8:00 am to 5:00 pm),”\u00a0 stated: “Our attention has been drawn to public notifications, both in print and in jingles in English and Yoruba, of BEDC’s intention, advised by TCN, to disrupt power supply to transmission stations in Akure and Ado-Ekiti, adversely affecting Ekiti and Ondo State areas for nine hours each day from July 1 to August 31, 2024.<\/p>\n
“There was no direct communication with the Ekiti State Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities (MIPU) on this matter, nor was approval sought from the Ekiti State Electricity Regulatory Bureau (EKSERB), which legally regulates the electricity industry in Ekiti State.<\/p>\n
“The planned disruption of electricity for nine hours each day for sixty-two days, totaling five hundred and fifty-eight hours (558) and resulting in twenty-three days of outage over these two months, is an unacceptable economic, financial, and social cost for the citizens of Ekiti State, and we completely reject this plan.”<\/p>\n
The commissioner called for an immediate suspension of the plan and an emergency meeting with the regional heads of TCN, BEDC, and NERC. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 2, in the commissioner’s office at the Government Secretariat, Ado-Ekiti.<\/p>\n
Mr. Aluko said the meeting would help all stakeholders devise an alternative, less disruptive plan to achieve the same objectives.<\/p>\n
The TCN had announced plans “to carry out critical maintenance work on the 132KV Akure-Osogbo transmission line, and also install Optical Ground Wire (OPGW), among other activities.”<\/p>\n
“We request prompt attention to this matter and are eager to work collaboratively toward a sustainable solution that benefits both the citizens of the state and the Ekiti State Electricity Supply Industry. In the meantime, please accept our highest regards,” the letter stated.<\/p>\n
“Customers in the affected areas will experience service interruptions during the planned outages. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and kindly request your patience and understanding,” read TCN’s notice.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, some electricity consumers in Ekiti State have described the planned outage as unacceptable and discouraging.<\/p>\n
Some consumers, called the plan wicked, noting that BEDC has never been proactive in maintaining its facilities.<\/p>\n
Another customer, Kemi Asubiojo, stated that BEDC could not add the outage to the already erratic supply and excessive billing that consumers were experiencing. She called for decisive intervention by the state government to save citizens from the impending hardship.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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