Respite may be becoming the way of residents of Aboto community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State as it has sealed an agreement with R.R. Reynolds, an Independent Power Provider, on billing terms and prompt payment. The pact was sealed during a town hall meeting in Aboto on Thursday.
Tunji Ariyomo, the Special Adviser to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Public Utilities, who represented the state government, said every house in the community had been provided with stand-alone solar power by the company.
He noted that the agreement was under the Ondo State Government Fast Power programme.
According to the aide, the Fast Power programme is under Phase One of the electricity improvement scheme.
Ariyomo, added that the beneficiaries of the power project had not been charged for the service, saying that would begin from July.
He said: “However, the people and the power service provider have now agreed on a reasonable rate.
“While the people called for scaling up of the power supply to avail them the opportunity to use additional powerful electronic appliances, the provider requested consistent payment by customers to offset some of its costs.
“The investors wanted assurance from the people that they would pay for the service, ahead of when the company would scale up power supply.
“The power company had initially offered N1,000 per month per household, which was beaten down by the community.
“The beneficiaries of the project would be expected to start paying bills from July.”
