Ikeja Electric boss urges patience over metering

4,000 meters to be issued in 2017
The Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (DISCO) has called on customers to be patient with the issue of metering, as demand of about 700,000 cannot be achieved within the stipulated timeframe.

The Disco, which made this revelation at a Consumers’ Forum with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and some members of the House of Representatives in Lagos, said even though metering had generated crises of confidence among consumers, they would still be patient because its challenges keep changing.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ikeja Electric, Anthony Youdeowei, argued that timelines cannot be given to meet demands to meter all customers across its network due to unavailability of foreign exchange forex.

He however revealed that as part of modalities to address the metering gap, about 4,000 meters would be issued to some of its customers come February 2017.

“We are not happy about the development, but we have to be mindful as well, because some of the cost might be passed to the customers, so we have to communicate with communities on this,” he added.

Bearing his mind from the consumers’ part was Chairman, Joint Action Congress of Electricity distribution Customer’s Right, Agbado Ijaye Area, Olawoye Amos, decried that the high bills sent to most communities are based on estimation, saying that this is a means of extortion. “That is why we are fighting for metering.”

Olawoye maintained that even though many meters are working in his community, readings are not considered; rather bills are given by estimation.

In spite of their consensus at the forum, he said: “we are planning to embark on no meter; no payment by next year, if nothing is done about it as promised by Ikeja disco.”

On CAPMI, the Ikeja Electric boss urged the Minister to revisit the cancelled scheme, in order to enable the Discos to fulfill regulatory demands on metering Nigerians.

Addressing consumers, Chairman Committee for Power, House of Representatives, Daniel Asuquo, urged customers to take the electricity services as a business entity that operates on a give and take situation.