The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has ordered electricity distribution companies, DisCos, to replace outdated meters for their customers at no cost.
In a statement issued on Monday, November 18, NERC clarified that the responsibility for upgrading or replacing obsolete meters rests entirely with the DisCos and should not impose any financial burden on consumers.
The directive follows concerns over reports that some electricity companies were pressuring customers to replace Unistar prepaid meters.
NERC warned that such practices are unacceptable and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting customers from being subjected to estimated billing due to faulty or obsolete meters.
The regulatory body stressed that adherence to this mandate is essential for ensuring transparency and fairness in the power sector.
“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.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, has ordered Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, IKEDC, and Eko Electricity Distribution Company, EKEDP, to immediately suspend the replacement of Unistar prepaid meters.
The directive was issued due to the companies’ failure to comply with guidelines set by the NERC.
FCCPC also urged electricity DisCos to prioritize engaging with energy consumers before assigning them to specific tariff bands. Additionally, the commission emphasized the need for strict adherence to industry regulations when billing customers who are yet to be metered.
The mandate was delivered by the FCCPC’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the commission’s 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.
The FCCPC has encouraged consumers to report any non-compliance by Ikeja or Eko DisCos with the directive through the commission’s dedicated electricity helpline at 08119877785 to lodge complaints or raise concerns.
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