By Abisola THOMPSON
In ensuring effective service delivery to electricity customers within the network operations, the management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), said it would engage 300 communities in 2019 for improved service delivery.
The company said their engagement proactively boost feedback mechanism toward a better mutual relationship between the service provider and its consumers.
Mrs Angela Olanrewaju, Head Branding and Corporate Communication of IBEDC said this in a statement on Friday.
Olanrewaju said that the company had engaged over 200 communities in 2018 as part of its commitment to customer satisfaction.
According to her, IBEDC identifies the need for regular engagement with communities to foster mutual relationship with customers.
She said the engagement also created the avenue to educate its customers on the challenges hindering efficiency.
“This will also create the opportunity to address most complaints posed by customers on the misconceptions about our services.
“IBEDC is a customer focused service provider that listens to the grievances of its customers.
“We know without the support of our customer base, we will not be able to function.
“ Therefore, we are ready to go the extra mile to discuss with customers freely on pertinent concerns that will improve power supply,” she said,
Olanrewaju said part of the problems was some consumers were still misinformed about how the electricity business value-chain works in the country.
According to her, lot of customers still believe that discos are responsible for the generation, transmission and distribution of power.
`It became imperative for us as an effective service provider to educate consumers as it’s one of our top priority for the progress of the electricity distribution sector.
`Also, our community engagements afford us the good opportunity for direct re-education, reorientation and sensitisation of consumers,’’ Olanrewaju added”
IBEDC spokesperson said in 2018, the company engaged over 200 communities within its franchise area of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Kwara and parts of Kogi, Ekiti including Niger states.
She said that the management of the compdesigned a model of effective interaction with communities, which had so far impacted positively on general awareness of IBEDC’s operation.
Olanreneaju said the company had also engaged with monarchs, government representatives, community leaders, CDAs, youths leaders and other stakeholders in Omi Adio, Odo Ona Elewe, Arapaja, Ologuneru and Iseyin.
Others include Adegbayi, Saki, Egbeda, Shoka, Idimango, Alakia, Olorunsogo, Lalupon and among others.
Olanrewaju said various communities had met with members of the company in an open fora’s to discuss issues affecting their communities.
She said, “Power supply, metering, estimated bills, energy theft, vandalism, safety, fault clearing and replacement of transformers are some of the issues addressed.
`As a result of constant engagements, more communities are being connected to our network and more consumers are being captured for billing through our enumeration exercise, issues of energy thefts are also uncovered.
Moreso, she said that the engagements had been keeping staff on their toes as they know customers could report them at the community engagements.
This, she added, had helped IBEDC to identity areas of customer’s challenges and also created avenue for the company to work in resolving the issues raised at the community engagements.
