The management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) PLC, has debunked the speculation making the round that the proposed 2 months free electricity supply for all Nigerians has taken effect.
The National Assembly, with a view to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown in the nation had proposed 2 mouths free electricity for Nigerians.
However, reacting to the insinuation that the proposed 2 months free electricity has become effective, the management of BEDC noted that the proposal is yet to be implemented, and as such customers should continue to pay their bills.
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BEDC management, further reacting to the development that some customers in part of its coverage states of Delta, Edo, Ekiti, and Ondo states were engaging the services of electricians to reconnect after being disconnected for non-payment of electricity bills on the excuse that Federal Government has promised free electricity, stated that no decision has been taken by the Federal Government on the proposal.
The managment added that nobody is even sure of the date of implementation, stressing that electricity supply to customers presently is not free.
BEDC pointed out that prepaid customers need to vend energy token to avoid service disruption when they run out of energy units, while postpaid customers need to settle outstanding bills to avoid disconnection.
“This is so because if the free electricity palliative measure is approved, it will not cover the past bills. Customers are therefore advised to manage their energy consumption at this critical period to avoid accumulating huge bills that may be difficult to pay in the event that the measure is eventually not approved,” BEDC said further.
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While stating that it completely aligns with the plans to ensure palliative measures including free electricity supply, BEDC management pointed out that it was in view of the need to ease the hardship that it has increased significantly power availability to several customers in some locations across its franchise states, as it has suspended the rotational load management schedule for power supply.
The distribution company assured customers that it shall continue to provide quality service across its touch points and improve availability of electricity supply to alleviate the hardship faced by customers during the coronavirus pandemic period.
BEDC management therefore appealed to customers to continue to pay their bills as the status quo remains pending further directive on the proposed free electricity proposal.
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It warned that anybody caught in the act of illegal reconnection will be arrested and prosecuted in line with existing electricity regulations.
