To facilitate improved power supply in Aboto community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, residents have agreed with the power service providers, R. R. Reynolds on billing terms.

Every household in the community has been provided with stand-alone solar power by the company. This was in fulfilment of the agreement it reached with the state government last year under the Ondo State Government fast-power programme.

The fast-power programme is part of the phase one of the state government’s electricity improvement scheme.

Beneficiaries of the power project have not been charged for the service. But they will begin to pay from July.

However, the people and the power service provider have agreed on a reasonable rate payable.

While the people called for scaling up of the power supply to avail them opportunity to use additional electronic appliances, the provider requested for consistent payment by customers to offset some of its costs.

Representing Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu at a stakeholders’ meeting at the Town Hall in Aboto, Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Utilities, Tunji Ariyomo, an Engineer stated that the investors wanted assurance from the people that they would pay for the service, ahead of when the company would scale up power supply.

The traditional ruler of the community, the Alaboto of Aboto, Oba Oyetayo Ofo-Aye assured the state government and the power company of their co-operation and readiness to pay at least N500 per month, per household.

The power company had initially offered N1, 000 per month per household.

Beneficiaries of the project would be expected to start paying bills from next month.

At the meeting, some of the beneficiaries, James Atimise and Mrs. Taiwo Akinte commended the Rotimi Akeredolu-led administration for ending 12 years of total darkness.

They thanked the state government for the creative way it succeeded in the power intervention for Aboto town.



They revealed that security and social life have improved in the community, particularly night life and that their children no longer have excuses for not studying.

The traditional ruler appealed to Engr. Ariyomo to prevail on the power provider to quicken the process of upgrading the capacity of the facilities so that they can power their non-energy saving devices such as television sets and refrigerators.

Having agreed to the billing rate, a committee for the Cluster Offtake Unit (COU) was immediately constituted and members were chosen by the people.

The five-man committee would be liaising with the people of the community regarding payment of bills and challenges faced by the customers.

Members of the committee are Mr. Memokan Emmanuel (Chairman), Mrs. Akinte Taiwo, Mr. Omotehinse Adeyemi, Mr. Adeji Ogooluwa and Mr. Temuhi Kehinde.

The stakeholders’ meeting was attended by community leaders and the people.

Among dignitaries present at the meeting were Acting General Manager, Ondo State Electricity Board (OSEB), Engr. Oreoluwa Fadoju, Acting Secretary, Office of Public Utilities (OPU), Princess Abike Bayo-Ilawole, Primate S.O. Ayodele, High Chief David Akinte, High Chief Adegbenro Atimise, Chief (Mrs.) Christiana Ogbolo and Chief Elkannah Elemo, among others.

SOURCE: https://thenationonlineng.net/ondo-community-electricity-provider-agree-on-tariff/