IBEDC Introduces Easy Maps To Simplify Metering Process

Managing Director, IBEDC Kinsley Achife disclosed that this new system eliminates the need for physical visits to IBEDC offices or mandatory online registration to provide a more streamlined and efficient metering process for customers.

“With the Easy MAPS, all customers need to do is pay into the designated bank accounts for their location and send proof of payment with their meter/account numbers, and address to the designated WhatsApp numbers. Once the payment is verified, a team of our trained technicians will be sent to the customer’s location for evaluation and installation”.

Until now, customers had to go through the process of registration, etc. which has exposed many customers to unscrupulous agents posing to help them get metered easily, especially the semi-literate who struggle with the process.

“With this new process, the Power firm is providing a more customer-centric approach to metering”, the MD explained.

This simplified metering process is part of IBEDC’s commitment to providing excellent customer service and making it easier for customers to access its services and it is believed that the new process will go a long way in improving the overall customer experience.

Achife  further  encouraged customers to take advantage of  the hassle-free channels of payment to pay bills and vend such as Quick Teller, Payarena, Jumia, Watu, Buypower, and ATM to avoid disconnection.’’

Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) introduced the National Mass Metering Programme to further bridge the country’s metering gap and also cushion the effect of the Service Reflective Tariff on electricity consumers in Nigeria.

The programme is however, battling some challenges which include the absence of vending infrastructure, non-tripping of the contractor, the cost of acquiring the meter, and delays in receiving and installation of prepaid meters.

These challenges have created a huge metering gap as data shows that the 11 electricity distribution firms have achieved a 39 per cent metering rate or metered only 4,898,721 in 10 years of privatisation out of the 12,643,630 registered customers according to data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.

 

Federal Government privatised the distribution and generation arms of the power sector in 2013 but kept the transmission arm to itself.

 

Data from NERC shows a total of 167,956 meters were installed in 2022/Q2 compared to the 85,510 meters installed in 2022/Q1.