The management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) said it will engage 300 communities in 2019 for improved service delivery to electricity consumers.

The Head, Branding and Corporate Communication of IBEDC, Mrs Angela Olanrewaju , on Friday at an interactive forum in Ibadan organised for its customers said the engagement would proactively boost feedback mechanism towards a better mutual relationship between the service provider and its consumers.

Olanrewaju said the company had engaged over 200 communities in 2018 as part of its commitment to customers’ satisfaction and improving service delivery.

According to her, IBEDC identifies the need for regular engagement with communities to foster a mutual relationship with customers.

She said the engagement also created the avenue to educate its customers on the challenges hindering efficiency and stable electricity supply.

“This will also create the opportunity to address most complaints posted by customers on the misconceptions about our services.

“IBEDC is a customer-focused service provider that listens to the grievances of its customers.

“We know without the support of our customers’ base, we will not be able to function.

“We are ready to go the extra mile to discuss with customers freely on pertinent concerns that will improve power supply,” she said.

Olanrewaju said parts of the problem is that some consumers were still misinformed about how the electricity business value chain works in the country.

According to her, lots of customers still believe that Discos are responsible for the generation, transmission and distribution of power.

“It becomes imperative for us as an effective service provider to educate consumers as its one of our top priority for the progress of the electricity distribution sector.

“Also, our community engagements afford us the good opportunity for direct re-education, reorientation and sensitisation of consumers,’’ Olanrewaju said.

She said the management of the company designed a model of effective interaction with communities, which had so far impacted positively on general awareness of IBEDC’s operation.

Olanrewaju said that the company had also engaged with monarchs, government representatives, community leaders, Community Development Associations (CDAs), youth leaders and other stakeholders.

“Power supply, metering, estimated bills, energy theft, vandalism, safety, fault clearing and replacement of transformers are some of the issues addressed at such fora.

“As a result of constant engagements, more communities are being connected to our network and more consumers are being captured for billing through our enumeration exercise, issues of energy thefts are also uncovered,” she said