…Vows to close300, 000 metering gap

…Says 50,000 meters available for installation

…Lists six manufacturing companies to deliver product

…Develops direct vending platform

By Obas Esiedesa & Chris Ochayi

 The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, has disclosed that in the coming months it will deliver 180,000 pre-paid meters to customers in its franchise area in a bid to close the 300,000 metering gap.

The utility said it already has about 50,000 meters in stock and assured its customers that more would be procured and installed in the coming months.

The new initiative under the Meter Assets Provider, MAP, progranne would see the installation of 135,000 single phase meters and 45,000 three phase meters.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, AEDC’s Chief Technical Officer, Engr. Oluwafemi Zacchaeus six meter manufacturing companies have been contracted to deliver the meters.

He listed the companies to include: Mojec International Company, Protogy Global Services, Turbo Energy, CIG, Momas and Holley. 

Speaking further on the commencement of the Mass Asset Programme, MAP, the Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Donald Etim said that the exercise was halted due to the operations of the National Mass Metering Programme, NMMP.

Mr. Etim explained further that MAP gives customers the option of paying for a meter while the money is refunded to them through the issuance of energy credit over a period of 36 months.

According to him, “To get a meter, under this scheme, AEDC customers are required to apply by registering on the company’s website at www.abujaelectricity.com.

After this, a site verification is conducted and payment notification is then sent to the customer and finally metering of the customer’s property is executed” he said.

Etim also explained that the MAP scheme is in response to the efforts of AEDC to ensure that all customers are metered in line with the policy of the Federal Government.

He added that regulated price for single phase meter is N63,061.32 (VAT inclusive) while a three phase meter goes for N117,910.69 (VAT inclusive).

“Our customers are assured of a seamless processing of their application for a meter. Customers are also assured of the fact that meters will be installed within 10 days of the receipt of their application for a meter” he noted.

According to him, AEDC has developed a platform that allows electricity customers to buy energy directly from the company’s website rather than go through a third party.

“With this platform, customers are not only assured of the elimination of extra charges such as service charge, commission and convenience fees, they are also assured of easy reconciliation of their account, 24/7 online real time service, as well as instant value for the energy purchased from any part of its franchise area. All the customers need to do to purchase electricity is,  visit: http://pay4energy.abujaelectricity.com” he said.