Other Firms To Provide Meters For Consumers – NERC

Other Firms To Provide Meters To Consumers - NERC
Electricity Distribution plant Photo: NAECNG

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has revealed that electricity consumers in the country can get their meters from other sources aside power distribution firms.

Commissioner, Legal, Licensing and Compliance, NERC, Dafe Akpeneye noted this on Monday at the 25th Monthly Power Sector Meeting.

According to Akpeneye, the new regulation has now introduced a class of operators in the power sector called Meter Asset Providers (MARPS).

He said MAPs would now provide meters to customers, among other functions, stressing that the non-availabilty of meters was a serious concern to stakeholders in the sector.

“We all arrived at the same answer that we have to do something different. We can no longer leave this very important obligation to the distribution companies alone; other players have to come into this space,” Akpeneye added.

“So, we went about creating the NERC Meter Asset Provider Regulation, 2018. What does this seek to do differently?

“In the past, we left it as a sole responsibility of the Discos in their performance agreement that they are to meter customers.

“It’s been over four years since privatisation and customers are still complaining. So, to solve this problem, we are creating a new class in the industry called Meter Asset Providers.”

In addition, he said, “MAPs will be independent people who will be approved by NERC but contracted by the Discos to bridge the metering gap. In doing this, there will be various options available to customers.

“Electricity consumers will now have the option of self-financing. Those who don’t want this will be able to obtain meters from MAPs and there will be a metering service charge spread over a period of 10 years.”

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