The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and three Meter Asset Provider (MAP) vendors have launched the sales of 900,000 meters for electricity users across Kogi, Abuja, Nasarawa and Niger states for the next 36 months.
Ernest Mupwaya, managing director of AEDC, during the ceremony held in Abuja on Friday, said the vendors were Mojec International, Turbo Energy and Meron. While Mojec will install and maintain meters for AEDC customers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Kogi State, Turbo Energy will do same for customers in Niger, and Meron will handle customers in Nasarawa.
According to Mopwaya, customers would pay about N37,000 and N67,000 for a single-phase meter and three-phase meter, respectively.
Mupwaya further revealed that 900,000 customers had been scheduled for metering in the AEDC franchise area.
“Being a moving target, we are aware that the number may increase and as it does, the vendors will take them by 100 per cent. This project is expected to last for 36 months.
“With this metering scheme, AEDC was hopeful of ending the era of estimated billing, complaints of over-billing while ensuring energy accountability,” he said.
Chairman of NERC, James Momoh, said the MAP programme was an intervention to eliminate estimated billing and guarantee more revenue for the power sector as a survey showed Nigerians were willing to pay for what they consume.
Momoh, who was represented by the general manager, Finance and Management Services, Abdulkadir Shettima, directed AEDC and the vendors to ensure meters were installed within 10 days after payment, noting that sanctions apply by facing consequences of deducting money from the Performance Guarantee bond posted by the vendors.
“If a meter is faulty, it must be replaced within two days or MAP will face the sanction adding that if there is a power outage for two weeks, metered customers on instalment payment plan should not pay the Meter Service Charge (MSC),” he said.
Managing director of Mojec International, Chantelle Abdul, said the company had over 20,000 meters in stock to start sales for Kogi and the FCT.
About six banks were also unveiled for customers on meter financing to enable them to secure the meters on loans.
