NERC: Over 1m electricity consumers have received prepaid meters

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says 1,092,399 customers have been metered by electricity distribution companies (DisCos) under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme and the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).

The agency disclosed this in its reply to a freedom of information (FOI) application by an electricity consumer group that requested data on the number of meters distributed by the DisCos under both programmes.

The All Electricity Consumers Protection Forum (AECPF) had asked NERC to provide data on the number of meters distributed so far by the DisCos under the programmes.

In a letter dated June 28 and signed by Adeola Samuel-Ilori, AECPF’s national coordinator, the group asked NERC to provide the information within seven days of receiving the letter pursuant to Section 4 (1) (2) of the FOI Act.

NAN reports that the NERC, in a letter signed by Ada Ozoemena, the commission’s secretary, said 508,439 customers have been metered so far under the MAP scheme of the federal government which was flagged off on October 30, 2020, with a target of six million meters by 2023.

The regulatory agency noted that 583,960 meters had been distributed under the MAP scheme, adding that 5,855 customers who had paid for prepaid meters were yet to get their meters.

On his part, Samuel-Ilori said the group had conducted a survey on customers who paid under the MAP scheme and were yet to get their meters.

He said the number was higher than the figures released by NERC, adding that the group would soon send FOI request to the various DisCos to get the detailed breakdown.

“It is necessary to have this data by our group to help fulfill one of the cardinal objectives, which includes monitoring the activities of power sector stakeholders as they affect the consumers,” Samuel-Ilori said.