The Ondo State Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has officially kick-started the electricity mass metering programme across the 18 local government areas of the state.
The governor said the development was in line with his promise to reform the power sector and ease the burden of the people of the state in accessing electricity.
At the inauguration of the meters, tagged O’Datiwa Meters, in Akure, the state capital, on Tuesday, the governor declared that the initiative would put an end to arbitrary and inflated electricity bills.
He added that the initiative was to ensure a transparent, fair, and efficient electricity supply system, stressing that accurate metering was not only a technical necessity but a fundamental right for all consumers, as it would help eliminate the uncertainties and discrepancies which had long affected the billing process.
Aiyedatiwa said, “This programme marks a crucial step in our commitment to providing every citizen with a reliable and equitable electricity billing system. By subsidising the meters, the government aims to address energy theft and inefficient billing practices, ensuring that residents of Ondo State pay only for the energy they consume.
“This is a promise to the people that their hard-earned money will be spent justly, and they will receive the energy they pay for without hindrance.”
The governor also noted that the transfer of electricity oversight from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to the State Electricity Regulatory Bureau, which happened recently, was a milestone for the state, as the development would allow the state to manage its electricity sector more effectively, tailoring policies to the specific needs of its people.
While announcing that the state was preparing for a venture into power generation, transmission, and distribution, Aiyedatiwa called on distribution and generation companies to collaborate with the state to achieve its goals.
“Our state is open to investors in all areas of power generation, transmission, and distribution. Together, we can ensure that every community in Ondo State is adequately powered.
“The O’Datiwa Meter programme signifies our unwavering dedication to creating a better future where energy is a source of empowerment and a pillar of equitable development,” he stated.
The Managing Director of Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Deolu Ijose, who acknowledged the governor’s understanding of electricity’s critical role in the state’s development, said the purpose of metering was to provide consumers with accurate energy usage, addressing frustrations over inflated bills.
Ijose pledged that the BEDC would collaborate with the government to guide the process and urged the people of Ondo State to collaborate with the BEDC.