The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has cautioned electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) against compelling customers with faulty meters to transition to the estimated billing system.
In a recent statement, NERC revealed that some DisCos had directed customers to apply and pay for the replacement of outdated or malfunctioning meters within their respective franchise areas.
According to the statement: “The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission is aware that some Distribution Companies (DisCos) 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.”
NERC emphasized that the directive violates Order No. NERC/246/2021, which mandates the structured replacement of such meters in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). The Order explicitly prohibits the forceful migration of metered customers to estimated billing.
The Commission clarified that it is the responsibility of DisCos to replace faulty or obsolete meters free of charge unless the fault is directly attributable to the customer.
NERC also encouraged customers to report any instances of non-compliance with this directive through its established channels.
