TheCable

The Kaduna Electricity distribution company says it will disconnect the electricity supply of customers who reject the installation of prepaid meters in their premises.

In a statement signed by Abdulazeez Abdullahi, its head of corporate communication, the DisCo said the cap on estimated billing by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is to accelerate metering of residential and commercial customers.

The regulator had issued a directive reducing estimated billing for unmetered customers on single and three-phase (R2 and C1) tariff class in the 11 DisCos depending on the area until a prepaid meter is installed.

“Yes! The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has put a cap on billing by estimation. But guess what? NERC also said all customers must allow their premises to be metered or else they will be disconnected,” the company said.

“Therefore any customer who refuses to be metered will be disconnected from electricity supply. Kaduna Electric’s Meter Asset Providers have meters available.

“The order of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission putting a cap on estimated billing did not imply that all residential and commercial customers shall pay a uniform rate; rather, the order stipulated different rates for different locations.

“So, the capping was essentially to accelerate the metering of customers in the residential and commercial categories. The capping as directed by NERC varies from one location to another within the company’s four franchise states of Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi.”

Yes! The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has put a cap on billing by estimation. But guess what? NERC also said all customers must allow their premises to be metered or else they will be disconnected. @PowerUpNG @anedng

— Kaduna Electric (@Kadunaelectric) March 1, 2020

At present, prepaid meters are provided to consumers through meter assets providers, who are third-party investors in the sector.