The Kwara State Government has again called on the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to be reasonable in the way they bill their customers, especially, the facilities owned by the State government such as hospitals and waterworks.

The Commissioner for Energy, Engr. AbdulAzeez Kola AbdulGaniy, made the call yesterday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Regional Head, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Engr. Toyin Akinyosoye, at Challenge, Ilorin.

Engr. AbdulGaniy said the State government, on its part, has always complemented the IBEDC services by paying the electricity bills of all government’s facilities promptly, constructing feeder lines and providing various communities with transformers and other electrical materials to enhance their access to regular electricity.

“Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has been investing hugely in prompt payment of its electricity bills of all government owned facilities, construction of feeder lines, distribution of transformers and other electrical materials to communities where needed, which is part of his campaign promises on infrastructural development”, he said.

“We expect you (IBEDC) to improve in your services to the people of the State in turn, and this will equally encourage the government to support you more”, the Commissioner added.

In his remark, the Director, Personnel, Finance and Supply, Alhaji Hassan Taiye Afodun, said the visit became imperative so as to get feedback on the previous deliberations as well as reciprocate the earlier visit by the Regional Head to the Ministry.

The Chief Electrical Engineer of the Ministry, Engr. Usman Komba, also urged the IBEDC to ensure steady power supply to all parts of the State, especially, the southern and northern districts, noting that many communities in those areas have been denied access to light for over a year.

The Ministry Officials buttressed that the recent heavy downpour has damaged many electricity poles in Ilorin metropolis, calling for immediate solution to restore light in the affected places.

Responding, the Regional Head of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Ilorin Office, Engr. Toyin Akinyosoye, who appreciated the Commissioner and his Team for the visit, said allocation of power supply is currently limited because of network problems, assuring that things will improve as soon as they fix the problems.

He also pointed out that the new billing tariff (225/KWh) for customers is beyond what any power distribution company (Discos) can modify, appealing to all customers to accept the new development in good faith.

“Many feeders have been downgraded because they have low power supply. I can assure all customers that when power allocation increases it will be upgraded”, the Regional Head added.

According to him, “The new electricity tariff will take effect immediately for customers on prepaid meters while for customers on postpaid meters will take effect in the next billing cycle.”

Engr. Akinyosoye confirmed that the State government has regularly paid the electricity bills for all its facilities as and when due, while thanking the present administration for the numerous support to meet the demands of the IBEDC customers across the State.

The Regional Head also sought the continued collaboration of the State government, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and other electricity agencies in order to improve the living standards of all residents.

Other Officers in the Commissioner’s entourage are: the Controller of Finance and Account, Mr. Akeem Idris; Chief Electrical Engineer, Engr. Fisayo Dada; Principal Admin Officer, Mr. AbdulKareem Ridwan; Senior Electrical Engineer, Engr. Saheed Seriki; among others.