Regulator Orders Restoration Of Power To Teaching Hospital

The Ondo State Electricity Regulatory Bureau (OSERB) has ordered the repair of the electricity transformer serving the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital Complex (UNIMEDTHC) by BEDC Electricity Limited within 15 days.

The university has been in blackout for some time now due to a spoiled transformer supplying light to the health institution complex.

The Bureau, which is in charge of Ondo State electricity market, gave the order when UNIMEDTHC management informed it that the transformer had broken down and the BEDC was not forthcoming in repairing it when they were informed about the power outage.

The state coordinator of Ondo State Electricity Regulatory Bureau (OSERB), Engr Stephen Bolawole FNSE disclosed that the Bureau had to intervene in the development.

Bolawole said when UNIMEDTHC management informed the Bureau about the power outage as a result of the breakdown of the transformer that serves the institution and the unreadiness of BEDC to fix it, the Bureau had to invite the managements of both the Hospital and BEDC to a hearing.

Having listened to both parties, OSERB ordered immediate repair of the transformer and restoration of power on the campus.

It also ordered UNIMEDTHC management to pay up the electricity bill it currently owes BEDC without delay.

Bolawole further disclosed that BEDC was given 15 days to fix the transformer and restore power to the Hospital.

He, however, said another hearing would be held with the two parties by the Bureau to see how to fashion a lasting solution to the strained relationship between the two parties.

Bolawole said, “The situation at hand is that the transformer at the university is down and BEDC has been written to by the management to intervene.

“The Ondo State Electricity Regulatory Bureau took it upon itself to conduct a hearing to resolve the situation. The meeting was held between OSERB and UNIMEDTHC and BEDC Electricity Ondo Limited and after the hearing, OSERB mandated BEDC to as matter of urgency repair the transformer and restore power to UNIMED.

“The order is 15 days and the order also mandated UNIMED to pay up the debt its owing BEDC. Both parties appealed the order. Consequently, the hearing of the appeal of BEDC has been fixed for Wednesday, December 11, 2024 to resolve the matter.

“It is expected that both parties would be at the hearing during which a final order would be handed down by the Bureau.”