A fresh insight has been given into some of the factors responsible for the unstable power supply in Osun State.
The Managing Director of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Mr. Kingsley Achiefe, has disclosed that about 2,800 transformers in the state are not in good condition, a situation causing epileptic power supply in the state.
Achiefe made the disclosure while responding to the complaints of Governor Ademola Adeleke on the current drop in power supply to the state.
The IBEDC MD also revealed that Osun requires 1,600 megawatts of electricity for a stable power supply.
But the IBEDC, according to Achiefe, was currently receiving less than 400 megawatts of energy from the generation company to be distributed to customers in Osun.
Achiefe also identified vandalisation of energy installations and energy theft through bypassing of meters as some of the challenges causing the firm to lose revenue.
He called on the state government to assist the company to stop the ugly trend of illicit and illegal meters where people buy meters from other states, bringing such surreptitiously into the state and vending for energy from another state.
According to a statement by Adeleke’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the Governor had earlier during the meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State, stressed that the current epileptic power supply in Osun has been affecting local economy and businesses badly.
The statement reads partly: “Apart from the fact that power outages contribute to growing insecurity, the Governor harped on the extortion of customers through transformer procurement, estimated billing that exploits the consumers and inability of some residents of the state to buy energy due to the old metering system.
“To this effect, Senator Adeleke said Osun is already working to enact the State’s Electricity System Law that will enable it to set up a Power Sector Regulatory Agency with a view to ensuring that people of Osun State are properly served within IBEDC franchise areas.
“As a government, we are already working to enact the Osun Electricity system law. We will be setting up a power sector regulatory agency. We will introduce off grid options and widen alternative energy sources.
Source: Osun Defender
