The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) advises electricity consumers against incurring costs for the replacement of faulty meters. It is the sole responsibility of electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to undertake meter replacements.
On Monday, November 18, the Commission issued a statement clarifying that utility companies are responsible for replacing meters that have not been tampered with by consumers, free of charge.
NERC Orders Nigerians Not To Pay For Replacement Of Faulty Meters
According to the data provided by NERC, it was observed that at the conclusion of the second quarter of 2024, approximately 45 percent, which equates to 5.99 million out of a total of 13.19 million customers within the industry, had meters installed. Regrettably, it was also noted that around seven million customers were subjected to estimated billing.
NERC said it “is aware that some Distribution Companies have instructed customers to apply and pay for the replacement of faulty and obsolete meters within their franchise areas. This instruction contravenes the Commission’s Order No. NERC/246/2021 on the Structured Replacement of Faulty and Obsolete end-use Customer Meters in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
“The Order clearly states that no customer with a meter should be forcefully migrated to estimated billing. If any customer’s meter is adjudged by any DisCo to be obsolete or faulty, it is the responsibility of the DisCo to replace the meter free of charge, provided that the fault was not caused by the customer.
The Commission reaffirms its unwavering dedication to safeguarding the interests and rights of customers. We are committed to ensuring strict adherence to established regulatory standards and enforcing appropriate regulatory penalties for any non-compliance by our licensees.
