A new class of operators have been introduced by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC); and this is expected to increase the supply of prepaid meters, The Cable reports.
The development was made public by NERC’s commissioner, legal, licensing and compliance, Dafe Akpeneye, at the 25th monthly power sector meeting which took place in Uyo, on Monday, March 12.
The commissioner disclosed that the regulation was borne out of an effort to find solutions to the unavailability of meters in the country.
Our source however gathered that the operators would be saddled with the responsibility of providing meters and replacing faulty devices within 48 hours. They would also be known as Meter Asset Providers.
Akpeneye stated: “We all arrived at the same answer that we have to do something different. We can no longer leave this very important obligation to the distribution companies alone; other players have to come into this space.
“So, we went about creating the NERC Meter Asset Provider Regulation, 2018. What does this seek to do differently?
“In the past, we left it as a sole responsibility of the DISCOS in their performance agreement that they are to meter customers. It’s been over four years since privatisation and customers are still complaining. So, to solve this problem, we are creating a new class in the industry called Meter Asset Providers.
“MAPs will be independent people who will be approved by NERC but contracted by the DISCOS to bridge the metering gap. In doing this, there will be various options available to customers.
“Electricity consumers will now have the option of self-financing. Those who don’t want this will be able to obtain meters from MAPs and there will be a metering service charge spread over a period of 10 years.”
According to Akpeneye, NERC estimated that investments worth $200 million would be gotten from the new regulation.
He added that the regulation provides for 30 percent local content which would increase as the regulation progresses.
Speaking at the event, the minister for works, power and housing, Babatunde Fashola, however disclosed that before the regulation can be reached, a 2003 meter contract must be settled by the federal government.
He said: “The next thing to do is to implement the regulation and that will require the cooperation of all stakeholders in the value chain.
“Government decided to pursue an out-of-court settlement on a meter contract that was awarded since 2003, which was held up in court until 2017.”
Meanwhile NERC declared that electricity consumers that were not provided with prepaid meters should stop paying electricity bills presented by DISCOs on the basis of estimated billing methodology.
The commission also ordered the DISCOs not to disconnect any such customer that refuses to pay the bills and further advised such customers to report to the commission if disconnected.
NERC said the new directive was in line with its mandate of protecting the rights of customers.
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