Transformers’ Purchase: IBEDC Ordered To Refund Electricity Consumers

The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has been ordered to refund electricity consumers money spent in purchasing transformers, poles, cables, and other items.

IBEDC got the order yesterday from The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) during a forum at Ilogbo, Oju-Ore, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The Chief Executive Officer/Executive Vice-Chairman of FCCPC, Tunji Bello, who was represented by Mrs Bridget Etim, said it is not the duty of consumers to buy transformers, cables, or electric poles.

IBEDC should thus refund electricity consumers who go out of their way to purchase such gadgets.

Also speaking, the Ado-Odo/Ota Zonal CDC Chairman, Mr Olatunji Onaolapo, decried what he called the nonchalant attitude of IBEDC officials in the local government.

He added:  “In Itele Ota alone, our people have bought up to 80 transformers. IBEDC did not buy a single one.

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“We will even pay for energisation, we will beg them to come and install a transformer that they are supposed to buy. It is uncalled for,” Onaolapo alleged.

FCCPC also disagreed with the position of Abdulrasaq Jimoh of the IBEDC that electricity consumers in the area had the habit of buying transformers without carrying the DisCo along.

In the words of Etim,  “We told the IBEDC before that for subsequent investments in network areas, returns must be given to the investors (the consumers).

“The previous ones were not properly documented with us, but subsequent ones must be refunded.

“I am correcting this because the Disco is saying you have to write NERC”.

“In fact, let me tell IBEDC that Jos DisCo has had to compensate a community that invested in their network without informing NERC or FCCPC. I want IBEDC to change and learn,” Etim said.

She also used the opportunity to appeal to Nigerians to always inform FCCPC of their plans to invest in the DisCos network so that they could stand a chance of getting refunds.