By KUNLE KALEJAYE

Electricity distribution companies, DISCOs, across the country which fail to meter electricity customers within their network will soon taste the wrath of Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, the regulatory body of the power sector.

This is coming even as it announced that electricity consumers were no longer required to pay for meters.

However, records show that majority of electricity customers across the country are without meters thereby compounding the issue of unrealistic estimated bills or ‘crazy bills.

This has therefore, compelled the Commission to explore alternative ways of ensuring the quicker deployment of electricity meters to customers.

File photo: Protesting PHCN workers

According to a statement obtained by Vanguard, an order was issued to the DISCOs to issue meters to their customers who had already paid.

Chairman of NERC Dr. Sam Amadi, said, “Customers are advised to report to NERC of any violation of this order and we will ensure that punitive action is taken against any erring DISCO.”

For a quicker deployment of electricity meters to customers, NERC plans to introduce Customer Financing and the use of Accredited Meter Vendors.

The Commission also plans to ensure standardisation and efficiency in the deployment of the meters and to that end a public notice will soon be issued for all vendors of meters to apply for certification of their products in line with the metering code.

The Commission will also write to the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, to fast track a No Objection Certification for various vendors.

Explaining the rationale behind the Customer Financing, Amadi told Vanguard in a telephone chat that willing customers can advance money to the DISCOS after which a meter will be installed in their premises within a stipulated timeframe.

He further explained that in exchange for this advance, the DISCOs will in turn reduce the customer’s electricity bills on a monthly basis to the tune of the amount originally advanced by the customer.

For Purchase and installation of meters from Accredited Vendors, the NERC boss said the Commission may accredit meter vendors to supply and install meters directly to customers. Payment modalities for these meters will be worked out by the Commission.

Amadi noted a key focus for 2013 is a comprehensive metering, which remains a priority of the Commission. To this end, NERC is compelled to look inward with a view to addressing this metering issue.