Damilola Shittu – Abuja
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has issued permits to Meter Asset Providers to provide meters to customers who receive electricity supply from four power distribution companies.
According to NERC, the permits were issued to meter asset providers that are to supply meters to customers in the franchise areas of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Plc, Yola Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc and Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc.
The commission stated that permits were issued in accordance with its Meter Asset Provider Regulations, adding that the meter providers were successful in the procurement processes that were done by the Discos.
In a statement that was made available to our correspondent in Abuja on Tuesday, the power sector regulator stated that it “issued permits to PHED, YEDC, EEDC and IBEDC Meter Asset Providers in accordance with section 4(3) of the MAP Regulations – NERC- R-112 of 2018, to MAPs that were successful in the procurements conducted by PHED, YEDC, EEDC and IBEDC.”
Section 4(3) of the MAP Regulation 2018 requires all electricity distribution licensees to engage Meter Asset Providers that would assist, as investors, in closing the metering gap and thus eliminating the practice of estimated billing in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
The commission further stated that PHED had appointed Armese Consulting Ltd and Holley Metering Ltd; YEDC appointed Chris Ejik International Agencies Ltd; EEDC appointed Mojec International Ltd; while IBEDC appointed CWG Plc, Integrated Resources Ltd, Mojec International Ltd, Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Ltd, New Hampshire Capital Ltd, Protogy Global Services Ltd and Tinuten Nigeria Ltd to provide meters within their respective franchise under MAP.
The commission had directed that the rollout of meters shall commence not later than the 1st of May 2019.
It stated that customers of Discos should expect from the commencement of the rollout date for meters to be installed in their premises within 10 working days of making payment to MAPs in accordance with section 18 (3) of the MAP Regulations 2018.
It said the meter providers shall charge an upfront amount of N36, 991.50 for single phase meters and N67, 055.85 for three-phase meters respectively.
“These costs of meters are inclusive of supply, installation, maintenance and replacement of meters over its technical life,” the regulator stated.
It also stated that it shall monitor closely the rollout plan of distribution licensees and the overall compliance with the regulation, as well as various service agreements by the MAP and electricity distribution licensees.
