Osogbo Residents Groan Under Epileptic Power Supply, Estimated Billing

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Ismaeel Uthman

RESIDENTS of Osogbo, capital of the State of Osun, have chided the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), over what they described as epileptic power supply and outrageous bills given to them.

Some of the residents, who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday, said it was disturbing that IBEDC could continue to give them estimated bills in spite of the irregular power supply. 

They complained that the irregular power supply has hindered economic activities and social life in their various communities.

Mr. Olabode Ajao, a resident of Kobongbogboe area, said that electricity consumers in the community were being given estimated bills in spite of poor power supply.

Ajao said the power supply was at its lowest ebb with residents of the community, especially those without prepaid meters, paying higher for what they did not enjoy. 

He stated: “The power supply is not regular again in our area. We hardly get three hours electricity during the day and at the end of the month, they will bring outrageous bills for us to pay”.

A welder at Ogunbelewo, Rasaq Olowale, lamented that his has been spending lots of money on fuel to power generator to keep his working going, saying electricity supply in the area is nothing to write home about again. 

Olawale said: “Artisans in this community are suffering. The epileptic power supply has led to a decline in our activities. A larger chunk of our profits goes into purchase of petrol, yet they are still bringing exorbitant electricity bill”.

Speaking with the medium, Mrs. Olabisi Kayode, a resident of Halleluyah, was of the opinion that the IBEDC intentionally fails to provide enough prepaid meters to electricity consumers in order to be extorting them. 

Kayode complained that electricity supply to Halleluyah area was very poor and in spite of that, the IBEDC has been coming with estimated bills. 

She said had all electricity consumers have their own prepaid meter, there won’t be reason for outrageous bills as consumer will be able to pay for only what they use. 

“What IBEDC is doing by not providing prepaid meters for all consumers is intentional as the company is using the opportunity to extort the consumers”, she said. 

Kayode call on the government to mandate electricity suppliers to provide prepaid meters to all consumers and stop charging outrageous bills.

When contacted, the Senior Communication Officer of IBEDC, Osun Region, Mrs Kikelomo Owoeye, said the power outage being experienced in some communities in the state was due to low power generation and recent vandalisation of the Transmission Company of Nigeria tower.

“We are closely monitoring the situation with our partners in the electricity value chain and we will keep you updated”, she said.

Owoeye, however, said electricity has been restored to Agunbelewo and Okinni, urging residents of any area with prolonged power outage to report to the IBEDC office near to them, saying it might be issues of local faults which could need quick intervention of technical team.

She appealed to the IBEDC customers not to hesitate in calling or reporting to the office for quick resolution if there is any power fault