FG Urges Discos To Close Metering Gaps

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola has urged the Distribution Companies (DisCos) to meet their target of metering their customers so as to monitor networks and use the data for expansion.

Fashola represented by the Director, Distribution Services Department (DSD), at the Ministry, Briskilla Sapke at the flag off of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company’s 2nd phase Mass Metering Project of 222,728 prepaid meter installations at Citec Estate in Abuja said, “Metering is a tool that gives everybody confidence and makes the job of the DisCos easier in terms of revenue Collection”.

While commending the Abuja Discos for its commitment to ensuring that it meets the metering target, the Minister charged consumers to reciprocate by refusing to engage in the practice of meter bypass and also tasked the Discos to engage in aggressive education of their customers on the management of their consumption habits.

 “I also like to tell the Discos that while metering is the first step, the second is there is need for them to use accessories, electrical appliances that consumes less energy and also educate them on the fact that now that they are metered there is no room for complaint that this is not what they consume but rather they should try to engage in what is call demand side management”.

Chairman, AEDC, at the event, disclosed that the commitment of N10bn for the provision of 222,728 pieces of meters alone by the Company is a bold move that clearly debunks the claim that DisCos are benefiting from estimated billing. He said the project would last for five months after which all metering programs will come under the Meter Asset provider policy that has been put in place by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)

Earlier, the Chairman, AEDC Board of Directors, Amb. Shehu Malami stated that the issue of metering of customers is one that has become topical and recurring in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry. Historically, the government has taken bold steps to resolve this issue through the Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) and of recent, the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) policies.

Amb. Malami said these intervention schemes stem from the fact that shortage of meter or the lack of it is both at the root of the huge ATC&C losses the DisCos currently suffer as well as the source of the frequent disagreement between them and their customers. A successfully executed metering program will enhance both transparency in the bill of customers as well as energy accountability.