In a bid to improve service delivery and consumer satisfaction, the Bayelsa State Electricity Regulatory Agency (BYERA) has launched its maiden Electricity Service Clinic in Yenagoa.
The clinic, held on Thursday at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall, Yenagoa, with the theme, ‘Working Together to Make Reliable Electricity a Reality in Bayelsa State,’ brought together BYERA, the Bayelsa Electricity Distribution Company (BYEDC), the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) and electricity consumers to discuss metering, billing, outages and tariffs.
The Director-General of BYERA, Dr. Rosalyn Dressman, said the initiative was designed to address persistent complaints that have plagued consumers for years.
“For too long, many electricity consumers have lived with unresolved complaints, estimated bills, metering challenges, prolonged outages, disputed accounts, wrongful disconnections and uncertainty about their rights,” she said.
She explained that the clinic provides a platform for regulators, service providers and consumers to engage directly, resolve disputes and restore confidence in the sector.
Dr. Dressman stressed that a reliable power sector requires the commitment of government, regulators, operators, consumers and communities.
She said BYERA is working to build an electricity market that is transparent, responsive, fair and investment-friendly, with consumer protection at its core.
According to her, key areas of focus include accelerating metering, enforcing service standards, strengthening complaint resolution mechanisms and protecting infrastructure from vandalism.
“Every consumer deserves to be heard. Every complaint deserves attention. Every service provider must be accountable,” she said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of BYERA, Hon. Austin Adigio, attributed the initiative to Governor Douye Diri’s commitment to taking ownership of electricity regulation in the state.
He said the conversation around power must shift from complaints to solutions, adding that reliable electricity is critical to economic growth.
“When the light stays on, Bayelsa prospers. Power is the engine for jobs, healthcare, education and small businesses,” Adigio stated.
He urged consumers to present relevant documents at the clinic for immediate resolution of complaints and called on Discos to be transparent and responsive.
Also speaking, the General Manager of BYEDC, Mr. Nosakare Okoro, said vandalism remains a major challenge affecting both consumers and service providers.
He stressed that electricity is not free and that consumers must pay for services rendered, adding that distribution and installation of meters are free.
A consumer, Mr. Adebanjo Oluwatobi James, who said he was recently upgraded from Band B to Band A, commended the steady power supply but complained about the high tariff.
“I have been on Band B but was recently upgraded to Band A. There has been steady light, but what I recently noticed is how my tariff has been raised. If I have been paying N4,000 per month and now I am paying N40,000, it is on the high side,” he said.
The event culminated in the formal presentation of an operational licence to BYEDC by BYERA, signifying the state-owned Disco’s official mandate to operate in Bayelsa State.
