DisCos Ordered To Provide Free Replacement For Old Meters

THE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has directed power distribution compa­nies (Discos) to replace obsolete meters for their customers at no cost at all.

This mandate was outlined in a recent statement released by the regulatory body’s management.

The directive follows recent reports of some electric­ity companies requiring customers to replace Unistar prepaid meters.

NERC emphasized that the cost of meter replace­ment falls solely on 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.

Nairametrics previously reported that the Federal Com­petition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) directed Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) and Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDP) to immediately halt the replacement of Unistar prepaid meters due to their non-compliance with directives from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The FCCPC also advised electricity distribution compa­nies (DisCos) to engage with energy consumers before placing them in tariff bands and to strictly adhere to industry regulations when billing unmetered customers.

The directive was issued by FCCPC’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, 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 read.

“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.

Consumers were also urged to report any attempts by discos to disregard the directive by contacting FC­CPC’s dedicated electricity helpline at 08119877785.