The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has explained current challenges in power supply within its franchise area, citing various factors including low gas supply to generating companies, vandalism, energy theft, and routine maintenance works by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
In a statement released on Sunday, the IBEDC spokesperson, Busolami Tunwase, highlighted the impact of these factors on the availability of power to customers in Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Kwara, and parts of Kogi, Niger, and Ekiti states.
The company acknowledged the inconvenience caused by scheduled maintenance activities conducted by the TCN, which necessitated planned outages in specific areas. While emphasizing the importance of such maintenance for long-term reliability, IBEDC apologized for any disruptions experienced by customers.
Vandalism and theft of electricity infrastructure were identified as major issues affecting power supply, with the company citing incidents such as the vandalism of TCN towers in Ogun State in May 2023. IBEDC expressed concern over the escalating cases of vandalism and highlighted the impact on communities affected by extended outages.
Energy theft through illegal connections and meter bypasses was also identified as a significant challenge, leading to revenue losses and liquidity problems for the electricity value chain. The company reported an alarming increase in identified cases of energy theft in early 2024.
IBEDC addressed payment apathy among customers, urging them to pay for the hours of supply consumed and outstanding bills to ensure the sustainability of the company and improve power supply.