The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has declared that electricity distribution companies (DisCos) are responsible for replacing faulty meters at no cost to customers.
In a public notice issued on Monday, NERC highlighted that it is aware some DisCos have instructed customers to apply and pay for the replacement of faulty or outdated meters within their service areas.
The Commission emphasized that this practice violates its Order No. NERC/246/2021, which mandates the structured replacement of faulty and obsolete meters in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
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According to the Order, no customer should be forced onto estimated billing if they already have a meter.
“If any customer’s meter is adjudged by any DisCo to be obsolete or faulty, it is the responsibility of the DisCo to replace the meter free of charge, provided that the fault was not caused by the customer.
“The Commission restates its commitment to protect customers’ interests and rights by ensuring compliance with established regulatory standards and enforcing regulatory penalties for non-compliance by its licensees.
“We urge customers to report cases of non-compliance to the Order by any DisCo,” it stated.
This follows the recent directive from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to the Ikeja and Eko electricity distribution companies (IKEDC and EKEDC), instructing them to immediately halt any activities related to the planned replacement of Unistar meters that may violate regulations.
The Commission emphasized that the Ikeja and Eko DisCos cannot proceed with the removal or replacement of Unistar meters unless they fully adhere to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC) Order on the Structured Replacement of Faulty and Obsolete End-User Customer Meters (Order No. NERC/246/2021).
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