By Energy Worth
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission on Thursday, announced that it had cleared eight more firms and issued each of them a ‘No Objection’ to serve as Meter Asset Providers in the electricity supply industry.
According to NERC, the new additions bring to 30 the number of companies it has approved to participate in the procurement and installation of meters across the country in order to bridge the four million metering gap.
Our correspondent gathered that following the commission’s approval of the Meter Asset Provider Regulations, 2018, applications were invited from interested investors for ‘No Objection’ from NERC.
The MAP Regulations are intended to facilitate closure of the wide metering gap in the industry within three years.
The ‘No Objection’ is to qualify intending investors to participate in the meter procurement process.
The regulations mandate electricity distribution companies to engage meter assets providers who fund the purchase, installation and replacement of meters to meet the Discos’ metering obligations to their customers.
It will be recalled that 22 companies were earlier cleared by NERC to procure and install meters for power consumers.
The commission’s Head of Media Unit, Vivian Mbonu, stated in Abuja on Thursday, “NERC has granted eight additional ‘No Objection’ to successful applicants to participate in the procurement process for meter in the Nigerian electricity supply industry.
“These new additions bring to 30 the total number of companies approved by the commission to participate in meter procurement and bid process with the electricity distribution companies of their choice.”
Mbonu said successful bidders from the procurement process would obtain Meter Asset Provider Permit from the commission after entering into Metering Service Agreements with the electricity distribution companies.
“Services to be provided by Meter Asset Providers may among others include financing, procurement, installation, repair and replacement of electricity meters according to the MAP Regulations, 2018,” she added.
The eight newly approved ‘No Objection’ holders include Carlin Concept International Nigeria Limited, Onenation Energy Platform Nigeria Limited, Armese Consulting Limited and CWG Plc.
Others are Damtaq Limited, Powerup Projects International Limited, Esinos Resources International Limited and Techadvance Limited.
NERC noted that intending investors had opportunities to apply for the commission’s ‘No Objection’ to participate in the meter procurement process as it was a continuous exercise.
