The Bayelsa government says it is yet to take a decision on the tariff to charge electricity users for power generated from its 60 Megawatts (MW) gas-fired power plant inaugurated on April 10 by President Bola Tinubu.
Hon (Mrs.) Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy said on Thursday that the state government was yet to decide on the tariff structure for various categories of electricity users.
“The tariff is a technical area that I cannot delve into now. Our major concern now is to ensure that the electricity gradually gets to communities across the state.
“Once we conclude with that, then we can work out the tariff and I will be in a position to speak on tariff,” Koku-Obiyai said.
The Independent Power Plant (IPP) has commenced a phased test-run, providing reliable electricity to parts of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa capital.
It will be recalled that the IPP could not immediately commence operations on inauguration due to the poor and dilapidated state of power distribution infrastructure operated by the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) in Bayelsa.
The improved power supply in some parts of the state capital has soured officials of the PHEDC to swing into an aggressive revenue drive to collect electricity bills, a development that residents are resisting.
Ebitimi Noah, Wh9 resided at Opolo area in Yenagoa wondered why the PHEDC are in a hurry to reap where they did not show, adding that the people of Bayelsa deserve a break following years of paying for electricity not used in the estimated billing.
“People are resisting this new wave of extortion, there is a plan to meter the houses so that usage can be measured and paid for but PHEDC officials have jumped into action while that is yet to be concluded.
“We need to be compensated for years of paying for darkness while the turbines are being tested and when the test-run is imported, we can begin to pay,” he said.
Following the commencement of test-run of the gas-fired turbines the Bayelsa Ministry of Information, Orientation and Strategy has commenced public sensitisation on the power project on the need to pay for electricity used and the need to optimise power consumption.