Your Action ‘Exploitative, Unjust’ – Osun Lawmaker Petitions IBEDC Over Unilateral Migration Of Ejigbo To Band A

The lawmaker representing Ejigbo State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Olujinmi Asagade, has accused the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC, of exploiting and over-billing residents through illegal migration to Band A.

In a strongly worded petition addressed to the Managing Director of IBEDC, a copy obtained by NAIJAONPOINT, Asagade said the company unilaterally migrated feeders in Ejigbo and its environs from Band B to Band A, subjecting residents to exorbitant tariffs without the mandatory 20 hours daily power supply.

The lawmaker, who said he was acting on numerous complaints from his constituents and others, described the IBEDC action as exploitative, unjust and a clear violation of extant regulatory orders.

“I have received numerous complaints and petitions from constituents and
residents of llesha, Ikirun, Ilobu, lleogbo, Ejigbo and its environs regarding the
unilateral migration of their feeders/communities from Band B to Band A by your company.

“The core of their grievance is that while they are now being billed under the exorbitant Band A tariff, they are not enjoying the minimum 20 hours daily
electricity supply as mandatorily prescribed for Band A customers. This practice is exploitative, unjust, and in clear violation of extant regulatory orders,” the petition partly read.

Asagade, who is the chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, noted that the action contravenes the NERC Order on Service Reflective Tariffs, which he stated provides that a feeder can only be classified as Band A where there is a proven and verifiable 20-hour minimum daily supply.

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He also cited the NERC April 2024 Supplementary Order, which he noted, mandates DisCos to adhere strictly to committed hours of supply and reclassify feeders that fail to meet the threshold for seven consecutive days.

Asagade further “warned that Section 110 of the Electricity Act, 2023 empowers NERC to impose heavy fines, order compensation for over-billed customers and even suspend the licence of erring DisCos.”

He lamented that the development has brought “untold hardship to artisans, small business owners and low-income earners in the affected communities.”

The lawmaker “demanded an immediate audit and correction of all wrongfully migrated feeders, their reclassification to appropriate bands reflecting actual supply, and a refund by way of credit adjustment to all affected customers.”

He issued a seven-day ultimatum to IBEDC to respond with a formal action plan, threatening to petition the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and move a motion on the floor of the Osun State House of Assembly if the company fails to comply.