Electricity consumers in Kano State have said that less than 3,000 consumers have received pre-paid meters since the distribution company, the Kano Electricity Distribution Company, KEDCO, took over in November, 2013.

*The Federal Government has failed on its promise to achieve the target of 6,000 Mega Watts (MW) of electricity generation

The customers who made this known at the consumers’ consultation on Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation, CAPMI, in Kano State, however lamented that they are still exposed to crazy billing as a result of none metering.

Chairman of Kano Electricity Consumer Forum, Mallam Suleiman Bello said at the forum that although electricity supply has improved, consumers are still exposed to crazy billing and non metering.

Bello said ý “KEDC metering is very low. It has estimated 3ý00,000 customers, I assure you that they have not metered up to 50,000. Since they took over, they have not disbursed up to 3,000 units.”

He also echoed consumers’ voices on the high cost of meter for N20,000 noting that multiple shop owners may not raise the cost in bulk to pay for metering. “There should be a means for instalment payment where willing consumers could pay half and after installation, pay the rest,” he added.

The consultation which was organised by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, was to probe metering progress of DISCOs especially under the CAPMI following outrages of “crazy” billings by electricity consumers nationwide.

NERC Commissioner for Market Competitions and Rates, Dr. Eyo Ekpo said those who paid for meters will enjoy an 11percent interest rate while they will have a rebate from the Fixed Charge till the money is cleared.

MD of Kano DISCO, Jamil Gwamna said it is planning to meter its customers within two years while it is working on embedded power generation to improve supply in its service area.

A customer, Engr. Maude Ado who decried the DISCO’s negligence of CAPMI said “It has not even started the CAPMI when sister DISCOs like Kaduna has 8,000 installed meters already.”

Meanwhile, the DISCO staff, Ismail Aliyu accused NERC of not allowing DISCOs to select meter vendors ýsaying it does not guarantee competition for reduced meter pricing.

NERC Commissioner for Government & Consumer Affairs, Dr Abba Ibrahim said the Commission does not restrict DISCOs on picking metering contractors, but said meters supplied must meet with the metering code standard as endorsed by NERC.