Ondo State Electricity Regulatory Bureau (OSERB) on Friday, ordered the immediate repair of the electricity transformer serving the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital Complex (UNIMEDTHC), Ondo, that has been in blackout for some days.
The State Coordinator of Ondo State Electricity Regulatory Bureau (OSERB), Engr. Stephen Bolawole, who gave this order, said it becomes necessary to restore power to give short-term and long-term solutions to energy issues in the hospital.
Bolawole who gave the order when UNIMEDTHC management informed him that the transformer had broken down and the BEDC was not forthcoming in repairing it when informed about the power outage.
He said when UNIMEDTHC management informed the Bureau about the power outage as a result of break down of the transformer that serves the institution and the unreadiness of BEDC to fix it, the Bureau had to invite the management of both the Hospital and BEDC to a hearing.
He explained that having listened to both parties, OSERB ordered immediate repair of the transformer and restoration of power on the campus.
He also ordered UNIMEDTHC management to pay up the electricity bill it currently owes BEDC without delay, saying 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 gave mandated BEDC to as a 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 it owes 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.”
The hospital is currently in blackout, but the Ondo State Electricity Regulatory Bureau(OSERB) has ordered the repair of the electricity transformer serving the university immediately by BEDC Electricity Ondo Limited.
Get real-time news updates from Tribune Online! Follow us on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive stories and interviews, and much more.
Join our WhatsApp Channel now