NERC Directs DISCOS To Commence Replacement Of Old Meters

By Tosin Olatokunbo

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC has directed the electricity distribution companies, DisCos to replace faulty and obsolete meters for their customers with effect from March 4, 2021.

The commission said the directed is necessary following complaints from both metered and unmetered customers over the slowdown over the National Mass Metering Programme, NMMP.

The NERC said over 7 million customers are currently unmetered as indicated by the customer enumeration data. It also estimates that an additional 3 million meters are currently obsolete and due for replacement.

According to order No. NERC/246/2021, titled, the NERC said“In the matter of the order on structured replacement of faulty and obsolete end-user customer meter in Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI),” issued on March 4, 2021.

NERC further stated that the existence of unmetered customers contributes to the threat affecting the financial viability of the NESI as unmetered customers expressed their displeasure with the estimated billing methodology.

NERC said “The Commission notes that over 7 million customers are currently unmetered as indicated by customer enumeration data. It is also estimated that an additional 3 million meters are currently obsolete and due for replacement.

“The existence of a large population of unmetered customers contributed to threats affecting the financial viability of NESI as unmetered end-use customers expressed deep dissatisfaction with the estimated billing methodology. The revenue assurance objectives of DisCos have also been challenged by being unable to properly account for the utilisation of electricity by end-use customers”.

The NERC has, therefore, issued the following order that DisCos shall grant priority to the metering of unmetered customers under the National Mass Metering Program; DisCos may replace faulty/obsolete meters under the National Mass Metering Program but these replacements must be done in strict compliance with the Metering Code and other regulatory instruments of the Commission.

It also directed DisCos to inspect meters of metered end-use customers and the replacement notice shall contain the following the date of the inspection, name, designation and signature of the officer that inspected the meter, the fault identified in the meter and the date for the installation of the replacement meter.

Accordingly, the Commission shall be copied on all replacement notices issued to end-use customers for the purpose of conducting random reviews of the replacement and new meters must be installed upon the removal of the faulty/obsolete meter and under no circumstances shall the customer be placed on estimated billing on account of the DisCo’s failure to install a replacement meter after the removal of the faulty/obsolete meter.

The new directive also includes that the customer and DisCo representative shall jointly note the units on the meter being replaced and the customer must be credited with these units within 48 hours after the installation of the meter; customers shall only be billed for loss of revenue where the DisCo establishes meter tampering, by-pass or unauthorised access as contained in NERC Order/REG/ 41/2017 on Unauthorised Access, Meter Tampering and Bypass; activation tokens shall be issued to customers immediately after replacement of the faulty/obsolete meter and DisCos shall file monthly returns with the Commission on the replacement of faulty/obsolete