The people of Warrake, Ivbiaro and Ihievbe communities, Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State have expressed displeasure over the incessant electricity blackout and arbitrary billing by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).
The residents made their concerns known in a letter to the company through a Consumer Protection Advocacy Organisation known as Electricity Consumer Protection Advocacy Centre, Abuja.
The communities alleged abuse of Market power, unlawful overbilling, violation of Customer Service Standards, and unlawful disconnection among other accusations.
In the letter signed by the Executive Director Electricity Consumer Protection Advocacy Centre, Abuja, Chief Princewill Okorie, the organisation accused BEDC of violating the Consumer protection regulations 2023 of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The organisation alleged that the three Communities had made investment in infrastructure to the tune of ₦13,880,000 in 2023 without signing Third Party Investment Policy, yet the communities have been forced to repair the transformers and replace fallen poles without getting any refunds.
According to the letter, at a meeting held on May 13, 2026 with BEDC Auchi Regional Office, representatives of the Communities had informed the DisCo authorities of High Tension Poles that required replacement, but they were told that unless the Communities pay 70% of the one point zero seven six Bn debt they owed among other conditions the poles replacement or electricity restored to the community.
Elucidating on the issue, the Executive Director, Electricity Consumer protection Advocacy Centre In Abuja, Chief Princewill Okorie, decried the gross violations of the law by the Benin DisCo and called on Edo State government to investigate the matter with a view to providing a lasting solution.
“Why will the distribution company insist that the customer that pays the bill should be the one to replace transformer or poles, and then disregarding the law, there is no rule of law.
“Should the Benin DisCo disobey the law of the Federal Government. Should they disobey the law of the parliament.
Electricity Act is a law made by parliament.
When a private Company or organization violates these rules and kept the Community in darkness, it is not acceptable at all”, Okorie explained.
Speaking with our Correspondent, Comrade Abdul Wahab Ekehide from Warrake, one of the affected Communities, decried the high handedness of the BEDC in handling Electricity matters in the three Communities.
He wondered why communities with no industries and epileptic power supply will be said to be owing electricity bills to the tune of billions of naira even when the communities have been responsible for infrastructure maintenance while the DISCO have been generating revenue from.
“There were some other poles that fell, first they said we should still go and fix them before they can come and restore light, which is their duty. People are now abdicating their duties to the community.
“You are a private company, is it not when there is service that I should pay? Now that there is no service, you want me to pay. You are just taking advantage of the ignorance of the communities that they have big men, let them come and pay and all these kind of things.
“No, that era is gone, we will not allow that, for them to keep exploiting us.”
When contacted for comments on the matter, the Head of Corporate Affairs of BEDC Mrs Evelyn Ewen could not be reached for comment, as calls put across to phone went unanswered.
