Oyo Communities Request to Be Disconnected from Electricity Grid over IBEDC’s ‘criminal Billing’

More than five communities in the Ido Local Government Area of Oyo state have written the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) over the exaggerated electricity bills and estimated billing rates they regularly receive from the company.



In a letter titled “Letter of Disengaging our Customer Relationship with IBEDC” jointly signed by Engineer Rasak Fabayo, Ademuyiwa Oluwole and Alhaji Ajadi Oladeji, President, Secretary and Treasurer respectively of the Central committee of Ajibode, Apete, Awotan, Araromi, Akufo and environs Community Development Association, the communities stressed that they will no longer allow any IBEDC staff within the communities to continue carrying out what it called ‘criminal acts’.



The letter, which was copied to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Apete, IBEDC Managers of Apete and Ajibode stations as well as Dugbe Business Manager of IBEDC, alleged that the power company gave a bill of one hundred thousand to a house that was not connected to the electricity grid yet.



The communities unanimously condemned the “criminal behaviour of issuing bills worth well over N5,000 and N10,000 in a month when electricity supply is less than an hour on most days of the month.”



The Central Committee of Ajibode, Apete, Awotan, Araromi, Akufo and environs further lashed out at the IBEDC management for lacking the capacity to manage the staff and the product being sold to customers.



It stated that, despite IBEDC’s marginalization of their electricity supply, the communities will no longer allow IBEDC staff’s fraudulent conduct in the communities and would prefer the organization to take them off the grid.



The letter reads: “With reference to series of letters written to your organization about our communities being marginalized, it is obvious by your organization’s body language and nonchalant attitude that it is a deliberate act to rip-off our people.”


“We have also seen that you lack the capacity to manage both the staff and the product you are selling. May we shock you a little. Your organization gave a bill of over one hundred thousand to a house that has not been electrified….where is the place and position of integrity and value for humanity in the act of your staff in this issue?”



“As from now, we will not allow any of your staff within our communities to continue to carry out this criminal act.” the communities emphasized.



“Therefore in view of the above, all of us in the above communities are pleased to tell you that we are tired of your incompetence and insincerity. By this, we are no more interested in the service of your organization known as IBEDC. You are free to take us off your grid.”