NERC faults Discos over inability to bridge metering gap

THE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has urged all electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) across Nigeria to ensure implementation of the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) regulation to bridge metering gaps in the country.

NERC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Prof. James Momoh, speaking during a workshop on the implementation of MAP regulation in Lagos, noted that as at today, most DisCos have not completed their procurement process, a development that has hindered the achievement of the objectives of the regulations and placed a burden on unmetered customers who are exposed to a huge level of estimated bills.

At the workshop, the regulations were reviewed, with the managing directors and chairmen of DisCos noting that it has become imperative for DisCos to implement the guidelines of the regulations to ensure widespread of inadequate metering of distribution transformers and feeders is addressed.

“Since the procurement of MAP on Tuesday, April 3, 2018, none of the DisCos has taken it up, and that is not good for the system.

Currently, the metering gap of Jos, Ikeja Electric, IBEDC, Kaduna DISCOs are 500,000; 323,779; 988,785 and 396,524, respectively,” Momoh stressed.

He said if the regulation complied with fully, all Nigerian homes would be metered by 2020, adding: “I don’t think the January 1 (next year) given by the minster to get all homes metered in Nigeria can be achieved.

But I can assure that by 2020, all Nigerian homes that want power would be metered. Let us work with the DisCos and MAP providers.

“There would be sanctions, but not at the moment, as we are working on a timeline given to DISCOs to meter their customers.”

On the issue of capping, Momoh said: “We have to make sure that customers are part of the picture. While the metering is being provided, the capping of cost of electricity is being provided.

“To make that happen, meters have to be provided and the regulations passed by NERC is to make that happen, in which the leadership of each DisCos would take the message serious to promote the regulations and ensure all consumers in Nigeria who want power in their homes can be metered, so that they can pay for the appropriate electricity they use.”