The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has warned power distribution companies (DisCos) over their failure to provide meters to their customers.
Its Head, Consumers Department, Mr Hardley BlueJack, said the failure of the firms meant that they would not be able to measure their energy consumption level accurately.
He said the sector was battling problems, such as gas shortage, huge tariffs, funding, and metering, arguing that to provide accurate bills to the consumers would be difficult, when there is no meter.
BlueJack said: ‘’One of the crises in the industry is how to measure the volume of energy, consumed by the customers nationwide. Whenever DisCos issue bills to their customers, the customers complain of over-billing. The customers alleged that power firms are charging them excessively. But once meters are well distributed, there would no longer be complaints.’’
Speaking on the sideline of a stakeholders’forum in Lagos, BlueJack said the sector is battling shortage of meters, adding that attempt to provide either pre-paid or smart meters by the firms, would help customers to know the volume of energy he or she has consumed.
According to him, there would always be issue of estimation in the sector, arguing that it cannot be eradicated completely.
‘’What NERC is clamouring for is drastic reduction in the rate of estimated billings. We believe that once meters are many in the country, the issue of estimation would be reduced drastically, because people would be able to know how and when they consumed the electricity they are being asked to pay for.’’ he added.
He however said estimated billing will continue to be in the system until meters are provided enmass to customers across the country.
‘’When there are dogs in the house of customers, it would be difficult for the officials of the power firms to ascertain the level of energy, which they have consumed. The next thing is to give them estimated bills,’’ he said.
