FG Issues New Order To Distribution Companies, If You Have, Use Prepaid Meter, Read This Quickly

The Federal Government has issued a directive to electricity distribution companies (Discos) to replace any meters phased out due to technological upgrades.....Read Full Article>>

This directive, made through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), aims to ensure seamless metering services for customers. NERC Vice Chairman, Musiliu Oseni, clarified that there’ s no official order to phase out Unistar meters, but they’ ll soon become obsolete due to technological advancements, making vending impossible.

Oseni attributed the phase- out to the Token Identifier Rollover issue, emphasizing that Unistar meters aren’ t upgradable. As Nigeria strives to bridge the seven million metering gap, some Discos have set a November 14 deadline for customers to acquire new meters.

However, Oseni stressed that during the phase- out process, customers shouldn’ t be subjected to estimated billing or denied electricity access. He also highlighted the obligation of Discos to provide clear refund mechanisms for customers purchasing meters under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) framework.

In response to the phase- out, the All Electricity Consumer Protection Forum urged Ikeja Electric and Eko Electricity Distribution Company to suspend decommissioning electricity meters until formal regulatory approval from NERC is obtained. The forum expressed disappointment over the lack of replacement plans.
To address metering concerns, NERC allows customers to opt for the Meter Asset Provider Regulation, enabling them to pay upfront for meters and recover costs over time. Customers can also report issues, such as delayed meter installation or forceful migration to estimated billing, directly to NERC.
In the midst of this development, customers are advised to stay informed about the meter replacement process and their rights. With the regulatory framework in place, NERC ensures that customers’ metering needs are met without disruption.
In summary, the Federal Government has ordered some electricity distribution companies to replace phased- out meters due to technological upgrades, ensuring seamless services for customers. NERC emphasizes no disruption to metering needs and refunds for customers under the Meter Asset Provider framework.