IBEDC to Meter Over 300,000 Customers in 2016

Ibadan Electricity Distributing Company (IBEDC) has restated its commitment towards the metering of customers as a permanent solution to estimated billing complaints.

John Donnachie Managing Director (MD/CEO) of IBEDC, who made this commitment at a business session recently, noted that as an attestation to their resolve, over 300,000 customers had been metered so far.  He then appealed that customers should take advantage of the Credited Advanced Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) scheme introduced by NERC as an intervention to bridge the huge metering gap across the country.

The CAPMI scheme is a win-win situation for customers and IBEDC, as customers shall be refunded their meter payments via electricity unit rebates over a period of 36 months with 12 percent interest, while ensuring they only pay for what they use.

He added that IBEDC as a company is committed to serving her esteemed customers, which has seen them currently embarking on a robust meter roll-out scheme to cater for customers with unique challenges. Examples are those who could prove that they are victims of burnt or stolen meters and customers who paid for meters under the defunct PHCN, with evidence of payment.

The initiative will also help eradicate estimated billing and energy loss faced by IBEDC while at the same time, serving as a support scheme to CAPMI.

He however stated that as a permanent solution, IBEDC has put in place a 10-year (2015 – 2024) metering plan – with the total investment estimated to be about N47.18b. The roll out plan makes provision for over 80% of our customers to be metered by the end of 2018. He said that only 182,338 customers were metered at the time IBEDC took over in November 2013, while most of the meters had become obsolete or faulty and would need to be replaced to ensure quality service.

John Donnachie  concluded by saying that from 2016 to 2024, they have projected to meter over 300,000 customers annually inclusive of the CAPMI scheme. To bridge this metering gap immediately, a team headed by the Deputy Managing Director, IBEDC, just returned from China where they have been able to facilitate the supply of cost-efficient smart meters.