Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa-led administration has continued to put smiles on the faces of its citizenry through the improvement of energy service delivery for residents and by aligning with the goal of making the state a model of excellence in the energy sector.
The development which was made evident at the recent official launching ceremony of the Ondo State Mass Metering programme, tagged: “O’DATIWA Meters” was witnessed by key stakeholders, top government officials and beneficiaries and held at the Cocoa Conference Hall Governor’s office, Akure.
Speaking at the event, Special Adviser to the Governor on Energy, Engr. Johnson Alabi, whose office serves as the supervisory body for the project, appreciated the Governor for his visionary leadership and for granting him the privilege to lead the program under the Consumer Protection Law of the State.
He explained that the ultimate goal of the government’s effort was to eliminate challenges associated with estimated billing and most importantly to ensure that every household and business receives a fair and accurate electricity billing.
“O’Datiwa Meter represents more than just the introduction of new technology, it is a reaffirmation of our commitment to the wellbeing of our residents, promoting fairness and fostering transparency; This program will serve as a key pillar in our mission to protect consumers and optimize the efficiency of our energy distribution network”
“I also want to express my sincere gratitude to our Meter Access Providers, whose collaboration has been essential to the success of this program; Your expertise and dedication to excellence are critical as we work hand-in-hand to improve the quality of service for the people of Ondo State”
Also expressing gratitude to BEDC, Engr. Alabi said “Your Partnership and support have been invaluable in bringing this ambitious project to life; Your collaborative approach have equipped us to tackle the challenges of estimated billing and provide more accurate metering system for our citizens”
Engr. Alabi commended residents for showing massive interest in the scheme, noting that presently over 6,000 people have applied for the meters and about 3,000 persons have fully paid the subsidized amount. He urged all on continued collaboration towards achieving success for the future of energy metering in Ondo State.
Giving his address, the Governor reiterated that the program marked a significant milestone in the journey towards a more fair and efficient electricity supply system in Ondo State.
“Our commitment to this program is further reinforced by the recent transfer of electricity regulatory powers from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to the State Electricity Regulatory Bereau which empowers us to oversee and manage the electricity sector more effectively, tailoring our policies to meet the unique needs of our state”
While noting that the development would enhance reliability and stimulate local economic growth as well as job opportunities, Governor Aiyedatiwa disclosed that the state was open to investors in all areas of power generation, transmission amd and distribution. He enjoined all the Distribution and Generation Companies to partner with the State in achieving desired goals.
Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Engr. Razaq Obe who appreciated the Governor for supporting the agenda to enhance energy access to more people in the state and for assisting in solving bottlenecks throughout the process, also commended the team under the Special Adviser on Energy for bringing forth the iconic milestone as well as BEDC for their unwavering support.
The Managing Director/CEO BEDC, Mr. Deolu Ijose, gave kudos to the Governor for the value he placed on energy needs of the people saying that the state is part of the first three set of states in the country to get transfer of regulatory powers and that the agenda compliments the Federal government’s metering initiative. He equally commended the Governor for attainment of the Law passed on energy theft, vandalism and meter tampering saying, it would serve as an enabler to prevent losses “We are here to collaborate effectively and guide the process to fruition” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the company, Business Development Executive, MBH Power Limited, Mr. Pishu Kirpalani, while appreciating the Governor for being the first to have foresight to take a frontal approach to getting electricity to the underserved and unserved communities, industries and citizens, said adequate and regular supply of electricity is necessary for the social economic development of Ondo State.
He explained that the company is a total energy solutions company providing world-class services to meet the growing demand of the power sector in emerging markets and assured that his company is poised to work seamlessly with the government to ensure the maximum deployment and successful installation of smart meters across the state.
“MBH Power Ltd, being a Local Meter Manufacturing Company with her Meter factory located along Lagos Ibadan Expressway, is set to provide Ondo State with a world-class Metering solution to eradicate the estimated billing and ensure mutual confidence between the customers and the Distribution Company”.
Mr. Kirpalani further assured that the injection of the MBH Power Ltd Smart Meters will go a long way in ensuring confidence of the customers that they would be paying only, for what they consume.
“We are more than ready to collaborate and partner with Ondo state government in ensuring that in the shortest possible time, the concern of estimated billing is completely eradicated” he said.
Highlights of the event was the unveiling segment and presentation of meters to randomly selected beneficiaries.
