Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Bayelsa State’s 60-megawatt gas turbine project is beginning to reshape electricity supply in Yenagoa, with businesses and households in parts of the state capital reporting more stable power.
The gradual evacuation of electricity from the state-owned gas turbines has brought relief to residents and business owners who previously depended heavily on diesel and petrol-powered generators.
For businesses, the improved supply is already translating into lower operating costs, particularly for enterprises that spent significant portions of their income powering shops, workshops and production facilities.
The development is expected to support increased business activity and productivity as more areas are connected to the network.
The Bayelsa State Electricity Company is also intensifying efforts to clear faults on existing distribution networks, with the aim of extending supply from the gas turbines to more parts of Yenagoa.
A further boost to the initiative is the rollout of free prepaid meters by the Bayelsa State Electricity Regulatory Agency, BYERA, to households in Yenagoa and its environs.
The meters are intended to eliminate estimated billing and introduce a more transparent electricity billing system in the state.
BYERA Director-General, Dr. RosaLyn Dressman, said the meters and their installation are “entirely free of charge.”
The metering exercise is expected to enable consumers to pay for electricity based on actual consumption while improving transparency in the electricity market.
The development marks a significant step in Bayelsa’s effort to leverage its gas resources to improve electricity supply and reduce the dependence of households and businesses on self-generation.
With the gas turbines gradually supplying electricity and distribution faults being addressed, the state government expects coverage to expand across Yenagoa and subsequently other parts of the state.
The project could also provide a foundation for increased industrial and commercial activity in Bayelsa, where high energy costs have remained a major constraint on businesses.
For residents and businesses already receiving the supply, the shift is more immediate: less reliance on generators, lower energy costs and more predictable electricity.
