Business
IBEDC Restores Power Supply To Ogun Communities Cut Off – Including Those With Prepaid Meters – In Attempt To Force Payment Of Electricity Bills
Charles Oyelesi
The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has restored power to the communities cut off from its supply lines in attempt to force payment of electricity bills.
“They restored power supply to the affected communities yesterday night (Tuesday, February 23, 2021)” a resident source stated.
The development brought to an end the face-off between the affected communities in Ilogbo – Ota, in Ado-Odo/ Ota Local Government Area of Ogun state and IBEDC officials in that axis.
Societynow.ng gathered that the power supply was restored in the face of ceaseless pressure from community leaders on the illegality of the action of the agents of the electricity provider.
Sources disclosed that agents of the electricity distribution company clandestinely cut off electricity to some communities in Ilogbo- Ota Ogun state last week to force customers owning to pay up.
The action of IBEDC officials affected all residents of the targeted communities, including those using pre-paid meters and those who are not behind in the payment of their bills.
“They said the community is owning about twenty something million naira and they want to recoup” a source disclosed in a fresh revelation.
Societynow.ng gathered that electricity supply was cut-off from the three transformers serving the affected communities.
“They cut the supply last week Thursday, we spent the weekend and Monday in darkness but they restored electricity supply yesterday” societynow.ng learned.
Insiders disclosed the drastic action of the IBEDC officials did not achieve the desired result.
“They didn’t get the debtors to pay up because they ended up pleading with the community to prevail on those owing to pay up after they restored light (Electricity)” a source stated.
The IBEDC officials reportedly cut off power supply to the affected communities on the claims that those that were disconnected from owing illegally restored power supply.
“So rather than deal with these people as stipulated under the law, IBEDC also decided to tow the path of illegality by cutting off electricity supply to all the communities affected, irrespective of the fact that there are people who are not owing and there are also many on prepaid meters in the communities” a source told societynow.ng.
