The Federal Government of Nigeria has begun phased distribution of over one million meters to Band A customers.
Sources familiar with the process said some electricity distribution companies have been handed some meters for onward distribution to their customers on Band A feeders.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said in June that the ministry had earmarked N20bn for the metering of unmetered Band A customers.
Band A customers are those who get a minimum of 20-hour power supply and pay N209.50 for kilowatt per hour after the removal of government subsidies.
According to Adelabu, the Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Alhaji Garba Sanusi, discussed the N20bn with him.
Adelabu disclosed that he agreed with the NERC chairman that the fund be used to procure meters for the Band A customers on estimated billing by September.
“The chairman of NERC was in my office, Alhaji Garba Sanusi, and we have agreed that we have accrued an N20bn for metering.
“And I said let’s release the N20bn for the DisCos to procure meters for the unmetered Band A customers. Before the end of September, that is going to happen,” Adelabu stated in June.
He added that 3.5 million meters would be supplied by the end of this year to improve revenue for the cash-strapped power sector.
Adelabu stated that most of the supply would be sourced from international vendors, while a smaller quantity is expected to come from local manufacturers due to their limited capacity.
“This year, two million meters would be procured plus the 1.5 million meters being procured with World Bank support. We are going to have 3.5 million meters installed by the year-end,” he added.
Later, the NERC announced in Order number – NERC/2024/072, titled “Order on the Operationalisation of ‘Tranche A’ of the Meter Acquisition Fund’ that N21bn was approved for the meters.
The commission stated that the deployment of funds under the Meter Acquisition Fund scheme would accelerate the deployment of meters and close the current metering gap.
It added that this would help in reducing commercial and collection losses to power distribution companies, enhancing the quality of service, and improving customer satisfaction.
On Tuesday, the Yola Electricity Distribution Company said it had commenced the deployment of 1,880 prepaid meters to Band A customers under the Meter Asset Funds.
“Yola Electricity Distribution Company is pleased to announce the commencement of providing meters under the Meter Acquisition Funds programme.
“This initiative, targeting unmetered Band A customers within YEDC’s franchise area, is part of our ongoing efforts to provide accurate billing and improve customer satisfaction,” the YEDC said in a statement signed by its Communications Officer, Blessing Tunoh, on Tuesday.
According to the DisCo, the 1,880 meters are distributed following the NERC’s approval of the MAF process.
The allocation comprises 1,500 single-phase meters and 380 three-phase meters, the YEDC disclosed.
It added that the Installation would be carried out by approved meter vendors over two weeks, from November 18 to November 30, 2024.
“Importantly, meters procured under this framework will be installed at no cost to YEDC customers.
“We urge all Band A customers to cooperate with the installers visiting their homes and business premises during the metering exercise. YEDC is dedicated to enhancing the quality of electricity distribution and ensuring all customers receive reliable and transparent services.” the statement concluded.
In an interview with newsmen, the spokesperson of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Busolami Tunwase, confirmed that the DisCo has also commenced the distribution of meters.
According to her, the company started in Ogun State before it would extend to other states within its franchise area.
“We have started, but we are doing it In batches. We are starting with our Ogun region for a few Band A customers,” she said.
However, the Ikeja DisCo in Lagos said it has yet to receive the MAF meters from the Federal Government.
Asked, the spokesperson of Ikeja Electric, Kingsley Okotie, said, “Not yet, we are still expecting the meters.”
With MAF and other initiatives, the Federal Government is making efforts to close the seven million metering gap.
PUNCH
