Government begins supply of free electricity prepayment metres to consumers

*Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) are to distribute over six million prepayment metres to households in Nigeria through the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) in the next 18 to 24 months, says Adeoye Fadeyibi, Managing Director/CEO of Eko DisCo

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In fulfillment of its earlier policy statement to roll out free electricity meters to consumers, the Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced the distribution of six million free prepayment electricity metres to Nigerians through the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).

ConsumerConnect gathered the mass meters rollouts began with the launch of the scheme in Eko, Kano, Kaduna and Ikeja Distribution Companies (DisCos) franchise areas.

Adeoye Fadeyibi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eko DisCo, at the takeoff of the programme, Friday, October 30, at Surulere, in Lagos State indicated that in the next 18 to 24 months, over six million metres would be distributed across households in the country.

Fadebiyi stated that the NMMP would improve Nigeria’s metering rate, eliminate estimated billing, and strengthen the local metre value chain by increasing local metre manufacturing, assembly and deployment capacity.

The initiative will also reduce collection losses, increase financial flows to achieve 100 percent market remittance obligations of the DisCos and support Nigeria’s economic recovery by creating jobs in the local metre value chain, said he.

The Eko DisCo Chief also stressed the programme would ensure that electricity consumers only pay the exact value for their energy consumption in the country.

According to him, key stakeholders to monitor the launch of the metre distribution include Lagos State Government (LASG) representatives, the Senate Committee and House of Representatives Chairmen on Power as well as representatives of Organised Labour and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

Fadeyibi disclosed that Eko DisCo would roll out over 100,000 metres to their consumers in the next few weeks for the first phase of the programme.

The remaining gaps would be filled under the NMMP, he stated.

He as well appealed to the consumers to support the government in eradicating the menace of energy theft in the industry so as to enable the DisCos account for the amount of energy used.

According to him, if this is not handled, the market would experience a shortfall, which could be a threat to the stability of the power sector.

“Electricity as we all know is an important essential need of any society and we all have acknowledged the menace of the estimated billing both on the customers and even we as a business.

“It is my belief that with this mass metering initiative we can begin to say we are on a path to getting it right,” he remarked.

Therefore, for Nigerians to enjoy the benefits of the metering programme, Fadebiyi said  all hands must be on deck to support all the stakeholders, including Federal Government, state governments, DisCos, meter manufacturers, etc., towards ensuring that the system stamps out another menace of energy theft through metre tampering and free riders.

He added: “We will continue to strive to serve you better and ensure you enjoy a delightful customer experience at all times.

“We admit we are not where we want to be in terms of service, but it is our pledge and determination to keep pushing the needle of service excellence in serving you our customers.”