Checks across the undertakings of all the 11 electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) in Nigeria have shown that no single new prepaid meter has been installed for consumers since the effective takeoff date of May 1, 2019.
It would be recalled that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), towards the end of last month announced to Nigerians that from May 1, 2019, Discos in collaboration with approved Meter Asset Providers (MAPs), would start giving out meters as a way of migrating from the regime of estimated billing system to prepaid platforms.
However, findings by Business Hilights Intelligence Unit (BHIU), faulted even NERC for not finishing its side of the job before telling Nigerians when issuance of prepaid meters should begin.
This is based on the fact that by the time NERC made the announcement that meters access will begin by May 1, it has not even assessed and approved MAPs selected by each of the Discos nor completed its internal activities that will drive seamless prepaid meters delivery to Nigerians.
Investigations further revealed that this singular misplacement of public notice has caused a lot of confusion as several Nigerian electricity consumers who had approached their Discos for meters are getting confusing responses that tend to cast doubts on the entire arrangements.
Further checks showed that rather customers getting their meters, NERC is suing the whole of May to accredit MAPs for Discos.
For example, only weekend, NERC issued permits to 10 MAPs to supply meters to power consumers in Lagos and Kaduna states.
The 10 MAPs are to supply meters to electricity consumers in the franchise areas of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (Eko Disco) and Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC).
In fact within the ending month of May, NERC has only been accrediting MAPs for the 11 Discos and not Nigerians accessing meters as previously announced by the same agency of the government.
However, at a one-day NERC Electricity Consumers Public Consultation on the theme, ‘Capping of Estimated Billing and Distribution Franchising’ in Asaba, electricity consumers in unison, told NERC Chairman, Prof. James Momoh, that until government starts to enforce the “No Meter, No Billing” rule in the country, Discos will continue to rattle consumers because they make more money from crazy bills based on estimation.
