The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has ordered electricity distribution companies to replace outdated meters for customers at no cost.
This was disclosed in a statement on Monday, by the regulatory body’s management.
This follows the reports that some electricity companies have been asking customers to replace their Unistar prepaid meters.
NERC emphasised that the responsibility for meter replacement lies entirely with the distribution companies and reiterated that no customer should be subjected to estimated billing.
“The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission is aware that some Distribution Companies (DisCos) have instructed customers to apply and pay for the replacement of faulty and obsolete meters within their franchise areas.
“This instruction contravenes the Commission’s Order No. NERC/246/2021 on the Structured Replacement of Faulty and Obsolete end-use Customer Meters in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry. The Order clearly states that no customer with a meter should be forcefully migrated to estimated billing.
“If any customer’s meter is adjudged by any DisCo to be obsolete or faulty, it is the responsibility of the DisCo to replace the meter free of charge, provided that the fault was not caused by the customer,” NERC said.
It was previously reported that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission directed Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company and Eko Electricity Distribution Company to immediately stop replacing Unistar prepaid meters due to their failure to comply with directives from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
The FCCPC also advised electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to consult with energy consumers before assigning them to tariff bands and to strictly follow industry regulations when billing unmetered customers. This directive was issued by FCCPC’s Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Mr. Tunji Bello, during a stakeholders’ meeting at the FCCPC headquarters in Abuja.
The FCCPC also advised DisCos to consult with energy consumers before assigning them to tariff bands and to strictly follow industry regulations when billing unmetered customers.
This directive was issued by FCCPC’s Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Mr. Tunji Bello, during a stakeholders’ meeting at the FCCPC headquarters in Abuja.
“The FCCPC’s directive to discontinue the replacement process stems from the DisCos’ non-compliance with NERC’s Order on Structured Replacement of Faulty and Obsolete End-user Customer Meters in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry. Both NERC and NEMSA have endorsed the FCCPC’s stance on this issue,” the statement reads.
“Citing non-compliance with NERC’s order, FCCPC directed Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) and Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDP) to immediately halt their replacement of Unistar prepaid meters,” Bello said.
