The Federal Government has urged the management of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to expedite action on the distribution of free prepaid meters to electricity consumers within its franchise area.
The charge was given at the weekend by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, during a one-day working visit to the company’s corporate head office located at Ring Road in Ibadan.
Adelabu expressed concern over the slow pace of meter distribution, revealing that out of the 59,000 prepaid meters supplied to IBEDC by the Federal Government, only 16,300 have so far been distributed to customers.
According to the minister, the low percentage of meter rollout within the company’s catchment area is unacceptable and undermines efforts to improve efficiency in electricity billing and revenue collection.
He noted that inadequate metering negatively affects the set revenue targets in the power sector and creates opportunities for sharp practices by some consumers who may exploit the absence of prepaid meters to evade accurate billing.
The minister challenged IBEDC’s management to immediately address the bottlenecks hindering distribution and to intensify efforts toward ensuring that eligible customers receive their free prepaid meters without further delay.
Adelabu also tasked the company with resolving other pressing challenges facing electricity consumers, including service reliability, billing complaints, and customer relations.
He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to improving power supply across the country, stressing that effective metering remains a critical component of ongoing reforms in the electricity sector.
The minister urged the company’s leadership to align with the government’s objectives by demonstrating greater efficiency, transparency, and accountability in service delivery to electricity users within its operational area.
