Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) said that it received 240 megawatts (MW) from the national grid instead of about 900MW required by the company to serve Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states.
The electricity firm, which said this in a statement signed by its chief corporate service officer, Kunbi Labiyi, explained that this under-supply was responsible for the load shedding among customers in the four states.
Labiyi added that some demonstrators who besieged the company understood the challenge when these facts were presented to them “and realised there was no basis for their demonstration.”
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The statement entitled: ‘Report on Demonstration to Benin Disco Office,’ read: “At around 9.30a.m this morning (Monday), there was demonstration from persons who claimed to be residents from areas behind Ogbe stadium (Benin City) under Etete environs. Their complaint was hinged on the 12 hourly load shedding arrangement currently being enjoyed by their area. This implies that they are not happy that they are getting 12 hours power supply daily.
“The load shedding arrangement is a result of inadequate power supply and was further occasioned by the reduction in generation leading to a drop in the allocation from TCN to BEDC.”
She said: “Presently, BEDC receives 240MW from the national grid to cover Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states, which is far lower than what the four states need. BEDC currently has capacity to take three times the power provided. Edo State enjoys the 44% of the amount received presently, while 56% is shared by the Ekiti, Ondo and Delta states. In Edo State, several locations receive between 10 hours and 23 hours power supply, with the least availability being 6 hours.”
