*Out of the 90,870 total number of meters allocated to Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Delta State would get 22,247; Edo State would get 40,995; Ondo State 19,453; and Ekiti State 8,294 meters ─ Tayo Adekunle, BEDC Head of Public Affairs

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

In accordance with the mass distribution of meters under the National Mass Metering programme (NMMP) in Nigeria, the Management of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has disclosed it concluded plans to distribute 90,870 free electricity meters to power consumers in Edo, Delta, Ondo, and Ekiti states in the first quarter of 2021.

Tayo Adekunle, Head of Public Affairs of the company, who made this known to media professionals Sunday, January 3, 2021, in Benin City, Edo State capital, said the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) allocated the meters to the DisCo.

The BEDC Head of Public Affairs stated that the meters would be distributed under the National Mass Metering programme (NMMP) beginning from Edo State.

The metering, according to him, would cover four BEDC franchise states in a phased manner on selected distribution transformers covering 90,870 customers over a period of six months.

Adekunle noted that out of the 90,870 total number of meters allocated to the BEDC, Edo State would get 40,995; Delta State 22,247; Ondo State 19,453, while Ekiti State would receive 8,294 meters respectively.

He further explained that “the meters will be distributed through the BEDC Meter Asset Provider (MAP) for its franchise areas.

“Metering under this scheme is free and customers will not have to pay.”

He noted that all premises would have to be enumerated and certified by the electricity inspector before installation of the meters.

Adekunle said: “Customers who have collected tellers for meters under the MAP and have not paid shall not pay any amount to acquire a meter.

“Any amount paid to the account of MAP shall be refunded within 21 days subject to customers provision of the account details for the refund.

“While 20 percent of the meters are three phases, 80 per cent are single phase.”

Customers in Band A, which includes those with a minimum of 20 hours supply, Band B with a minimum of 16 hours, and Band C with a minimum of 12 hours of power supply, would benefit from the metering during the exercise, said the BEDC Head of Public Affairs.

He added: “Band D with a minimum of eight hours and Band E with a minimum of six hours of power supply will benefit from the metering in the second quarter of 2021.”