TheCable

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has begun the installation of 900,000 meters under the meter asset providers (MAP) for electricity consumers in its coverage areas of FCT, Nasarawa, Kogi and Niger states.

Ernest Mupway, the managing director, AEDC, announced the installation on Friday at the launch of the meters.

According to him, the MAP vendors responsible for the sale and installation of the meters in its coverage area were Mojec International, Turbo Energy and Meron company.

He said Mojec would install and maintain meters for AEDC customers in the FCT and Kogi state, while Turbo Energy would install meters for customers in Niger.

Mupwaya said Meron company would be responsible for customers in Nasarawa state.

According to him, customers would pay about N37,000 for a single phase meter and N67,000 for three phase meter.

“In all, 900,000 customers have been scheduled for metering in AEDC franchise area,” he said.

“We are aware that the number may increase and as it increases, the vendors will provide the meters 100 per cent, this project is expected to last for 36 months.”

Mupwaya expressed believe that the metering scheme would bring to an end the issue of estimated billing and complaints of over-billing.

He said the metering of the customers would also ensure energy accountability.

James Momoh, the chairman of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), said the MAP programme was an intervention to eliminate estimated billing and guarantee more revenue for the power sector.

He said that survey conducted indicated that Nigerians were willing to pay for what they consume.

Momoh, represented by Abdulkadir Shettima, the general manager, finance and management services, directed AEDC and the MAP vendors to ensure meters are installed within 10 days after payment by consumers.

“If a meter is faulty, it must be replaced within two days or MAP will face the sanction,” he added.

“If there is power outage for two weeks, metered customers on installment payment plan should not pay the Meter Service Charge (MSC).’’

Chantelle Abdul, the managing director of Mojec International, said the company has over 20,000 meters for sales for interested customers in Kogi and FCT.

On his part, Daniel Obemure, Turbo Energy managing director, said they have the capacity to ensure that all their customers are metered.

“We do not only have the capacity, we are coming with a team that produce more than 300,000 thousand meters on daily basis,” Obemure said.

“We are saying no to estimated billing, customers will definitely benefit. We are coming with solutions that makes it extremely easy for consumers to load their meters any day either online or offline.

“The meters we are bringing has 99.9 accuracy in terms of billings and readings.”

NERC had said that the sale and installation of meters under the MAP programme would begin on May 1.

The commission had also given approval to some MAP vendors to begin the process of metering consumers  with the Distribution Companies in the country.