Lagos – In compliance with the directive of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) says it has installed 96, 200 prepaid meters in residential and business premises in the last three years.
Mr Sam Uwaire, the company’s Chief Operating Officer told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday that the installation of the meters would put an end to estimated billing by the company.
“We have distributed and installed 96, 200 prepaid meters since we took over in November 2013 in residential and business premises in the zone.
“Before we took over, the company had installed 72,000 prepaid meters, totalling 168,200,’’ he said.
According to Uwaire, EKEDC was faced with the problem of non-functional meters before it was privatised.
“When it was privatised in 2013, we told the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) that all our meters were having accuracy challenges.
“Based on that we came up with a plan to change the meters.
“We are, therefore, committed to the plan to change all the meters in the zone under the five-year framework announced by NERC.
“As it is now, we are doing everything within our power to see that within the framework of five years, all electricity consumers within our network are metered,” he said.
On estimated billing, Nwaire said the company had an effective internal mechanism of charging consumers whose houses had no meters.
He said:“A meter is usually placed on a feeder serving a particular area where most of the houses have no meters.
“At the end of the month, the reading is taken and those with functional meters will be charged, while those without meters will share the remaining energy consumed … that is the estimation.”
The EKEDC boss expressed the hope that metering of all houses and business premises would reduce complaints on estimated billing by consumers. (NAN)
