THE Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), has put smiles on the faces of customers in the Asaba Region through the resolution of customers’ challenges and complaints, while maintaining that it remains a customer-centric company, during the BEDC Customer Engagement Forum, held last Thursday, in Asaba, Delta State capital.
The following were on hand during the parley with the electricity consumers in Asaba: Evelyn Gbiwen, Head of Corporate Communications, BEDC, who read the message of the Managing Director/CEO of BEDC, Dr. Henry Ajagbawa, Mr. Banye Mordi, Product Manager, who represented the Regional Head, Asaba Region, Mr. Cutix Nwadei, Head, Special Projects and Committee on Customer Engagement, Mr. David Alabi, Regional Safety Officer, Mr. Edise Ekong, Corporate Communications Officer, Imoghome Umakhihe, who is the Head, Customer Service, BEDC and the Regulatory Officer at the BEDC headquarters in Benin-City, the Edo State capital, Mrs. Mbagwu Gloria.
All the aforementioned BEDC staff took turns to enlighten and educate the electricity customers on various aspects of the power sector in Nigeria, especially as it concerns the BEDC, during the first segment of the engagement forum, which kicked off at 10am at David’s Event Centre, Anwai Road, Asaba, while the second segment, which began at 12pm, entailed the setting up of a Customer Complaints Resolution Desk inside the massive hall, with the required human capacity and gadgets, such as computers, as customer service agents were seen listening to customers with rapt attention, while attending to their needs for a greater customer experience and to better enjoy the electricity services provided by the distribution company.
Evelyn Gbiwen, Head of Corporate Communication of BEDC, said part of the reasons for the Customer Engagement Forum, is “to know how customers perceive us, listen to complaints and make resolutions as much as we can today. As you make your complaints, we sincerely hope they will be resolved today. It is our responsibility to listen to you as customers and our duty to resolve all issues raised. We are committed to see that the resolution process is expedited, so as to get solutions right at the venue, as well as fully attend to questions and concerns of electricity customers.”
Mr. Cutix Nwadei implored the customers: “any issue that you have brought here today is not deliberate”, while it was revealed that Nigeria presently generates only about 4, 200 Mega Watts of electricity, out of which just nine per cent is allocated to BEDC for distribution, within its operational space which includes Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states. BEDC maintained that another problem could emanate from non-payment of electricity bills. “They could be one or two fault lines that needs to be cleared, but only nine per cent of national electricity generation comes to BEDC. We pay the market operator, as well as the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Company, which both have their meters showing what we have to pay, so it means that ours is what remains after we have paid our own bills as a distribution company. Hence, you can see what happens when customers fail to pay their bills as and at when due.
For customers who do not currently have meters, BEDC described the bills that they are getting as, “close to actual”, also saying that the electricity company is currently doing an enumeration to help it serve customers better. It therefore, implored customers to co-operate with BEDC staff while on enumeration. While saying that BEDC has made a decision that customers must be satisfied, the company gave out the various channels it can be reached, such as its 24-hour call centres on 07001236660, 07001235553 or 07080671191 or Social Media channels, @Beninelectric on Twitter or at customercomplaints@beninelectric.org . BEDC further called on customers who had paid for their pre-paid meters and are in possession of their receipts, to approach the Asaba Regional Office at New Anwai Road, Asaba, to get theirs, as the electricity company recently procured a good number of the product, all in a bid to enhance customer satisfaction. But it warned against meter tampering, bypassing and illegal access to electricity, as well as other forms of electricity theft.