FG explores alternative funding for electricity meters

Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi

The Federal Government has directed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to commence the implementation of an alternative funding scheme that will facilitate the deployment of electricity meters.

The deployment of the meters, according to the government, will address the menace of ‘crazy billing’ by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, as well as curb all other commercial losses being experienced by electricity consumers.

NERC, on Sunday, said it received the instruction following a presentation made by its Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Sam Amadi, to the Presidential Action Committee on Power.

The commission, in a statement, said PACP agreed with recommendations made by it and asked for the immediate implementation of the alternative funding scheme known as ‘Credit advance payment for meter installation.’

It said, “The scheme was designed as an alternative for customers who are willing to advance money to their distribution companies for speedy installation of prepayment meters.

“One of the top priorities of the commission is ensuring that the huge number of un-metered customers is reduced as rapidly as possible and within the shortest possible time. By doing so, the menace of ‘crazy billing’ and other commercial losses will be greatly curtailed.”

The commission had in June last year announced that customers were no longer required to pay for electricity meters because the new tariff structure had incorporated the cost of meters in the fixed charge component of their bills.

However, to the surprise of the consumers, the commission reversed itself in January this year by amending its earlier directive, and stating that customers who had yet to get the pre-paid meters and who were still receiving ‘crazy estimated bills’ were at liberty to pay for meters to enable them control their electricity consumption.

The commission said the announcement in June last year did not work out well as it had expected, adding that nine months after the announcement, an unacceptable number of Nigerians still remained without meters.