From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has directed the eleven electricity distribution companies in the country to replace faulty and obsolete metres for their customers at no cost.
NERC in a statement issued on Monday emphasised that the cost of metre replacement falls solely on the distribution companies and reiterated that no customer should be subjected to estimated billing.
“The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission is aware that some Distribution Companies (DisCos) have instructed customers to apply and pay for the replacement of faulty and obsolete metres within their franchise areas.
“This instruction contravene the Commission’s Order No. NERC/246/2021 on the Structured Replacement of Faulty and Obsolete End-use Customer Metres in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry. The Order clearly states that no customer with a metre should be forcefully migrated to estimated billing.
“If any customer’s metre is adjudge by any DisCo to be obsolete or faulty, it is the responsibility of the DisCo to replace the metre free of charge, provided this at the fault was not caused by the Customer.”
