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Electricity meters free under Mass Metering

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The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission(NERC)says under the National Mass Metering Programme(NMMP) electricity consumers are not required to pay directly for meters.

This was disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja of Monday by NERC’s management.

” We wish to reiterate that the NMMP designed to provide all consumers of electricity with meters is a policy intervention of the Federal Government supported by the Central Bank (CBN) Concessionary loans to Distribution Companies (DisCoS).

“This laudable initiative is still very much on course a total of over 900, 000 units of meters have so far been installed under the takeoff scheme without any payment by benefiting consumers.

“While this doesn’t cover many of the unmetered customers, we are pleased to inform electricity consumers that the next phase under which about four million units of meters would be procured from local meter manufacturers has commenced,” it said.

The commission said ” we once again state that under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) consumers would not be required to pay  directly for meters.

” Pending the conclusion of the NMMP, procurement processes and the commencement of manufacturing/Installation consumer may elect to acquire a meter from the Meter Assert Programme (MAP).

NERC said that the regulatory framework approved by the commission under MAP/NMMP Regulation provide for refund of cost of meter through energy credits to the customer at the time of vending.

The commission said that the recently issued notice by the commission on the adjusted cost of meter was designed to protect consumers from arbitrary pricing by MAP .

According to NERC, this is in context of recent changes in macroeconomic parameters affecting cost of production.

NERC advised that clarification be made from it’s Public Affairs Department on any regulatory matter so as to avoid misinforming innocent consumers.

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Stakeholders urge NERC, EEDC to facilitate installation of meters

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Stakeholders in the electricity industry in the South-East have urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to facilitate installation of prepaid meters in homes..

The stakeholders gave the advice in Enugu on Friday at the NERC Stakeholders Engagement on Consultation on the Review of the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).

The stakeholders were of the view that the electricity DisCos must be technically and financially prepared to get all customers metered within limited time to check extortion and disagreements emanating from estimated billing system.

Mr David Emeson, a customer living within Agui Road in Enugu, said that most time due to limited technical and financial abilities, the DisCos could not meet the target of metering customers within the 10 days duration when applied for.

“Whether free-of-charge or pay-and-get-reimbursed prepaid meter installation, it should be done on time and not putting who wants to get out of estimated billing system in more months or years in estimated billing trap,’’ Emeson said.

Mr Ben Muotuanya, a resident of Achara Layout in Enugu, lauded EEDC for the improvement in supply but noted that other technical and meter provision services had remained relatively low.

Muotuanya said that the NERC should ensure that EEDC did the right thing always by ensuring customers complained less by putting all into prepaid meter system.

Mr Paulinus Nwanakwu, a resident of Emene, complained that people in Emene had applied for NMMP prepaid meters but they were told that it was done in different designated areas and it would soon get to his community.

Nwanakwu noted that the issue of estimated billing system had been the greatest undoing of residents of Emene community, especially for artisans that needed the daily electricity supply for their businesses.

Prof. Frank Okafor, Commissioner in-charge of Engineering and Performance Monitoring in NERC, said that the review of the NMMP programme was meant to elicit complaints and correct grey areas in the distribution of the government’s free prepaid meters.

Okafor noted that the Federal Government initiated free NMMP metering to close the metering gap in the country.

He said that 92,000 electricity customers within South-East had been provided with prepaid meters in the “Phase 0” of the NMMP programme.

“The Federal Government is about to start the next phase (Phase 1) after the “Phase 0” with over three million prepaid meters expected to be distributed to electricity customers throughout the country,” he said.

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Nigeria begins process for 2nd phase of National Mass Metering

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The Federal Government has concluded arrangements to begin the second phase of its metering programme, tagged “National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP)”.
This information is contained in a statement from the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Infrastructure, Mr Ahmad Zakari, in Abuja on Friday.
The statement said that NMMP is expected to drastically reduce estimated billing by Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs).
It said NMMP would ensure that consumers are billed appropriately for the electricity they consume by installing meters free of charge in household and business premises that are currently unmetered.
“The Federal Government provided funding for the programme through loans from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to DISCOs.
“Meters are provided to customers free of charge. This is indeed unprecedented and has so far led to the tremendous success recorded so far.
“It will be recalled that the first phase was launched later than expected in December 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a target of one million meters across the country.
“Till date, 750,000 meters have been delivered to DISCOs in just under eight months,” it said.
According to the statement, NMMP is a marked improvement in terms of the speed of installation of meters compared to its predecessor (Meter Asset Provider – (MAP), which recorded 350,000 meter installations in over 18 months.
It said essentially the Nigerian Meter Industry has increased local installation capacity by a multiple of five.
“In preparation for the Second Phase (known as Phase 1) of the NMMP, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has conducted extensive consultations and stakeholder management, and has revised its metering guidelines.
“This phase will provide up to four million meters and shall also use a similar financing mechanism as in the first phase.
“One of the key successes of the NMMP initiative is how rapidly it has increased private sector interest in investing in the local meter assembly, manufacturing and installation space.
“This is in addition to the springing up of new factories such as the Quantum meter assembly plant in Lagos and the Smart Meter assembly plant in Kaduna.
“We are also seeing the refurbishment and upgrade of some metering plants that have also fallen into disrepair such as EMCON in Kaduna,” it said.
The statement said that this development in the meter assembly space is driven by the Central Bank’s commitment to support local meter assembly/manufacturing.
It said that under NMMP, only local companies will be allowed to participate in the bidding process for the upcoming phase of the programme.
It said NMMP promises to increase the job creation impact of the programme which has already attained appreciable heights with over 10,000 direct jobs created in the first phase.
“For the second phase, a central procurement mechanism to be overseen and supervised by the NERC will be employed in order to ensure that meters are secured at the lowest possible cost, thereby reaching the goals and objectives of the NMMP.
“The commencement of the procurement process of the second Phase has been done strategically to ensure that there is no gap in meter supply to customers as the NMMP transit from the first Phase to the second Phase.
“The Minister of Power, Mr Mamman Sale, has emphasised the administration’s commitment to eliminate the metering gap by 2023.”
He said that the continuation of the NMMP was in line with the Federal Government’s agreements with Organised Labour , the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), on Electricity sector reform.

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Nigeria moves against fake meters in South East

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The Federal Government has warned that it would no longer tolerate the installation of uncertified and fake electricity meters in the South-East.
The Minister of State for Power, Dr Goddy Jeddy-Agba, gave the warning while inaugurating new Nigerian Electricity and Management Services Agency (NEMSA) test station and inspectorate field office in Enugu.
Jeddy-Agba, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr William Alo, said that government cannot afford to waste scarce resources and lose precious lives due to fake meters and compromised installations.
According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is committed to providing safe, reliable and sustainable electricity to the citizenry.
“The National Meter Test Station commissioned here today and the first in the South-East will drastically minimise and hopefully eliminate fake meters, unqualified and quack electricity meter installations in the zone.
“I, therefore, wish to state in unequivocal terms that government will no longer condone uncertified electricity meter installations without NEMSA crimp seals and test labels.
“The government also cannot afford to waste scarce resources and lose precious lives and property at this difficult time of revamping the economy,” he said.
In an address, the Managing Director of NEMSA, Mr Peter Ewesor, said that the agency was striving to ensure improved power supply especially in the South-East.
Ewesor said the test station and inspectorate field office would ensure standardisation in meter calibration, installation and reading.
“The new test centre will serve the five states in the South-East removing the burden of traveling to Port Harcourt or Lagos for meter testing,” he said.
The five South-East states, which the NEMSA test station and inspectorate field office would serve comprised: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.

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DisCOs meters 1.09m customers

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The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says 1,092,399 customers have been metered by electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) under the Meter Assets Provider (MAP) scheme and the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).
NERC said this in its reply to a Freedom of Information (FOI) application by an electricity consumer group that requested for data on the number of meters distributed by the DisCos under both programmes.
The letter, which was signed by the Commission’s Secretary, Mrs Ada Ozoemena, on behalf of its chairman, said 508,439 customers have been metered so far under the MAP scheme of the Federal Government which was flagged off on Oct. 30, 2020 with a target of six million meters by 2023.
The regulatory agency said 583,960 meters had been distributed under the MAP scheme, adding that 5,855 customers who had paid for prepaid meters were yet to get their meters.
All Electricity Consumers Protection Forum (AECPF), had asked NERC to provide data on the total number of meters distributed so far by the DisCos under both programmes.
The letter dated June 28 and signed by Mr Adeola Samuel-Ilori, National Coordinator, AECPF, asked the agency to provide the information within seven days of receiving the letter pursuant to Section 4 (1) (2) of the FOI Act.
Samuel-Ilori, while commending NERC for its response to the request, said the group had conducted a survey on customers who paid under the MAP scheme and were yet to get their meters.
He said the number was higher than the figures released by NERC, adding that the group would soon send FOI request to the various DisCos to get the detailed breakdown.
“It is necessary to have this data by our group to help fulfill one of the cardinal objectives, which includes monitoring the activities of power sector stakeholders as they affect the consumers,” Samuel-Ilori said.

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Metering of houses, gradual not automatic

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Austin Atakpu, the Managing Director, TCS Paymeters, manufacturers of prepaid meters, says metering of houses in the country is a gradual process and not automatic.

Atakpu  was responding to a question on the unavailability of prepaid meters for some energy consumers in the country.

He said that the Federal Government was concerned about the manufacturing of meters and it was doing everything possible to ensure that every house was metered.

He, however, noted that prepaid metering was an expanding business, as the demand for meters was huge for Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) to meet at a go.

“We manufacture prepaid meters in the country for DisCos.

“But the DisCos are still updating their systems.

“As they update their systems, they bring in new prepaid meters to the public, it is a growing thing.

“It is not a demand that can be met overnight, because new houses are being built on a daily basis and they require meters,’’ Atakpu said.

For instance, he said, one could not say, as of today, that the meter requirement for this state is five because by the time you wake up tomorrow there will be about 10 or 15 new houses that will require meters.

“There are also a number of existing houses that do not have meters, so satisfying all of these will be gradual and achieved in no distant time.’’

President Muhammadu Buhari promised that every house in the country will be metered before the end of his administration to end the problem of estimated billing.

In fulfilment of this promise, the Federal Government began the distribution of six million free prepaid meters to Nigerians in October 2020 through the National Mass Metering Programme.

The programme was launched in Eko, Kano, Kaduna and Ikeja Distribution Companies (DisCos) franchise areas.

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Mass distribution of prepaid meters begins in Abuja

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By Moses Uwagbale

As a pre-condition for tariff increase, buja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), has rolled out distribution of prepaid meters for consumers in its franchise areas of FCT, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger states.

Mr Ernest Mupwaya, Managing Director of AEDC, said at the inauguration in Abuja that the project was under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).

Mupwaya said the NMMP was part of the Federal Government and DISCOs commitment to closing the metering gap that existed in Nigeria’s electricity supply industry.

He said that 900,000 meters would be installed for consumers in the next 18 months in its franchise areas.

He said AEDC would roll-out 101,000 meters before the end of the year as part of the first phase of the programme.

“Over the years our company has been able to come up with initiatives aimed at closing the metering gaps such as the MAP and others with some levels of success.

“However, with this current programme, the company will be able to acquire 900,000 meters, not for new places only, but to replace those defective meters.

“Under the first phase which begins today up to end of December, we shall install 101,000 meters,” he said.

According to him, the NMMP would increase Nigeria’s metering rate, eliminate estimated billing and strengthen the local meter value chain.

The AEDC chief said this would also increase local meter manufacturing, assembly and deployment capacity.

He added that the initiative would also reduce collection losses and increase financial flows to achieve maximum market remittance obligations of the DISCOs.

Mupwaya explained that the meters would be produced locally to further boost Nigeria’s economic recovery by creating jobs in the local meter value chain.

The Federal Government’s  initiative to put an end to the problems of estimated billing in the electricity sector.

Part of the funding guidelines by the Federal Government is to ensure that all meters under the scheme will be locally sourced to create jobs through lead meter manufacturers in the country.

The NMMP is to roll out six million meters for all connection points on grid without meters over the next 18 to 24 months and this is estimated to impact 30 million consumers nationwide.

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106, 000 prepaid meters to Lagos electric customers

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By Moses Uwagbale

Ikeja Electric Plc (IE) has commenced the distribution of prepaid meters to 106, 000 customers under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) approved by the Federal Government.

Mrs Folake Soetan, Acting Chief Executive Officer of IE, made this known at the flagging off of the programme in Ikeja.

Soetan said that the programme was part of the Federal Government’s effort to further bridge the country’s metering gap, and also cushion the effect of the Service Reflective Tariff on electricity consumers in Nigeria.

She said: “In line with this programme, IE is committed to driving the roll out through a series of one-day metering initiative across different locations in its network.

“These metering initiative is designed to ensure a seamless metering process that allows customers to register and be metered on the same day after following due process.

“Ikeja Electric is rolling out over 106,000 prepaid meters to customers across its six Business Units – Ikeja, Abule-Egba, Akowonjo, Oshodi, Ikorodu and Shomolu.”

Soetan said that this was for the first phase of the programme, which would run till the end of 2020.

According to her, beneficiaries of this programme, which will cut across all locations in IE network, will not be required to pay upfront for the installation of meters.

Soetan said rather, the modalities of cost recovery for the meters would be clearly defined and communicated to the beneficiaries.

“The primary objective of the NMMP is to increase the metering rate in the country and close the gap of unmetered customers.

“It is also expected that it will assist in reducing collection losses, while at the same time, increasing financial flows to achieve 100 per cent market remittance obligation of the DisCos.

“Part of the objectives also include: the elimination of arbitrary estimated billing, improving network monitoring capability and provision of data for market administration and investment decision-making,” she said.

Soetan said apart from its jobs creation potential in the meter value chain, the programme would increase local meter manufacturing, assembly and deployment capacity, all in support of the Nigeria’s economic recovery plan.

She reiterated the DisCos’ commitment to bridging the metering gap by metering all its customers to ensure an efficiently managed electricity supply industry that meets the yearnings of Nigerians.

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CBN releases framework for financing of mass metering

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By Tanko Mohammed

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has released its framework for National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).

The framework was released by the Development Financing department of the apex bank through its official website.

It stated that introduction of the Service-Based Tariff (SBT) in the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) effective Sept. 1, had put increased emphasis on the need to close the metering gap in the NESI.

“Closing this gap will enhance efficiency of revenue collection by Distribution Companies (DisCos) and thereby facilitate meeting their obligations to other upstream market participants.

“According to analysis provided by Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, the current metering gap in the NESI – based on recent customer enumeration data – is over 10 million.

“This comprises of unmetered customers as well as customers with obsolete meters that need to be replaced,’’ it stated.

CBN stated that the framework outlines the operational modalities of the CBN financing support to the DisCos (Downstream), and Local Meter Manufacturers (Upstream).

It added that key objectives of the NMMP included increasing Nigeria’s metering rate, elimination of arbitrary estimated billing, strengthening the local meter value chain by increasing local meter manufacturing, assembly and deployment capacity.

“It will support Nigeria’s economic recovery by creating jobs in the local meter value chain and reducing collection losses and increasing financial flows to achieve 100 per cent market remittance obligations of the DisCos.

“It will also improve network monitoring capability and availability of data for market administration and investment decision making,’’ it stated.

Electricity

Ikeja Electric signs N11.4bn metering contract

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By Moses Uwagbale

Chairman of Ikeja Electric (IE), Mr Kola Adesina,   says the electricity Distribution Company has signed an N11.4 billion contract to accelerate metering of its customers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adesina made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen in Lagos.

Adesina said : “We have signed service contracts with all our customers and we will ensure that we provide supply to them.

“We are investing massively in network expansion and also giving out additional contracts for those who will do meters for us.

“We signed N11.4 billion contract for the purpose of metering our customers.”

He said IE had earlier invested $44 million in advanced metering infrastructure to increase technology and innovation into its business operations.

On the performance of the power sector since the privatisation process in 2013, Adesina maintained that significant progress had been made, but there was a lot of ground yet to be covered.

He said : “The kind of improvement we have made is not one we are happy about. It is not what we want to celebrate, but we have made significant improvement.

“We were doing about 3, 000MW in 2013 but today we are doing about 5, 700MW averagely.

” A lot of generating and distribution aspects were way behind, but now we are moving forward but we are not moving as fast as we should.

“We should actually leapfrog achievements than these incremental achievements we are making.

 “The people living in Ogudu, Magodo, Ikeja and other areas where we have bilateral power supply agreements will  tell you that things have improved with the quality of supply they are getting.”

Adesina noted that the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry was heading towards corrective pricing which would provide incentive for investments.

“As we speak today, we made our own investment based on patriotism, based on nationalism, based on the fact that we are Nigerians, based on the fact that we believe that we had the capacity to bringing energy to life in Africa.

“The commercial principle of the sector needs to change and government has realised that the resources available to the state cannot meet all its expenses.

“Some of these commodities need to be economically priced. Pricing electricity economically is a commonsensical thing that any administration will naturally want to support.

“Nigeria is doing about 5, 700MW. That is very shameful if you ask me, for almost 200 million people.

“Like I said at a forum yesterday, Nigeria should be doing about 50, 000MW of electricity every day, ” he said.

According to him, the media and stakeholders need to portray the right narrative regarding how the sector can be revamped.

“We on our part should ensure that the framework to deliver that power is available and ultimately for the consumer to pay the right price, ” Adesina said.