- Safiu Kehinde
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has declared that replacement of faulty meters is free while warning Distribution Companies (DisCos) against charging customers.
NERC made the declaration in a statement issued on Monday following reports of some DisCos instructing customers to apply and pay for the replacement of their faulty meters.
As contained in the statement, the power regulatory body held that the DisCos instruction contradicts the commission’s Order No. NERC/246/2021 on Structured Replacement of Faulty and Obsolete end-use Customer Meters in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
While restating its commitment to protecting customers’ interest, NERC warned DisCos against non-compliance with the order, stressing that it is their responsibility to replace faulty meter free of charge.
The statement read in part; “The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission is aware that some Distribution Companies (DisCos) have instructed customers to apply and pay for the replacement of faulty and obsolete meters within their franchise areas.
“This instruction contravenes the Commission’s Order No. NERC/246/2021 on the Structured Replacement of Faulty and Obsolete end-use Customer Meters in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
“The Order clearly states that no customer with a meter should be forcefully migrated to estimated billing.
“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.”