NERC to ensure all customers are metered – Chairman

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says it will ensure that customers pay for only electricity consumed by providing meters for them.

The Chairman of NERC, Prof. James Momoh, said this at a news conference in Abuja on Monday.

Momoh said that NERC would do everything within its power to ensure that distribution companies (DisCos) provide meters through the Meter Assets Programme (MAP) .

“Failure to do so, we have a backup plan, which is one of our regulations that will be out in about a month, called “Clapping’’ which is going to put a maximum amount DisCos can charge customers.

“For DisCos, it will be an advantage for them to provide meters as this is an attempt to make sure that the win-win customers are metered.

“We want DisCos to provide them with meters because the minimum we are going to allow them to charge is not going to be to their advantage in the long run,” he said.

It was reported that the move is to address the severe revenue shortfall being recorded by DisCos arising mainly from the Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection losses of the Discos.

It is also to address the public outcry on the overcharging of end users for electricity under the estimated billing system.

NERC issued the Meter Asset Provider Regulations in March 2018, pursuant to the Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005.

It is anticipated that the Regulations will, among other things: encourage the development of independent and competitive metering services and eliminate estimated billing practices by DisCos.

It is also expected to attract private sector investors to the provision of metering services, close the metering gap through an accelerated meter roll out, and enhance revenue assurance.