Don’t Flout Our Directive On Meter Alternative, FCCPC Warns DisCos

The Federal Competitors and Client Safety Fee (FCCPC) on Monday warned of stringent sanctions if its metering directives to Ikeja and Eko electrical energy distribution corporations (IKEDC and EKEDC) are flouted.

The Fee additionally refuted stories suggesting a meter alternative charge for affected customers, clarifying that these claims are false.

The warning follows current allegations of disregard for metering directives.

The phase-out of Unistar pay as you go meters by Ikeja Electrical Plc and different electrical energy distribution corporations (DisCos) are attributable to widespread shopper complaints.

IKEDC indicated that the Unistar pay as you go meters, first deployed over a decade in the past, will not be supported as of November 14, 2024, attributable to technological upgrades and the Token Identifier (TID) rollover situation.

In response, the fee mandated that DisCos should not cost customers for the alternative of pay as you go meters, citing Sections 17(j), (l), (s), 116(2), 124, 125, 138, and 155 of the Federal Competitors and Client Safety Act (FCCPA) 2018.

On Wednesday, FCCPC Director of Company Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, acknowledged that DisCos are usually not charging affected customers a meter alternative charge, opposite to prior stories.

“The Federal Competitors and Client Safety Fee (FCCPC) notes with concern current rumours that its directive to Ikeja and Eko electrical energy distribution corporations (IKEDC and EKEDC) to right away stop all actions associated to the deliberate alternative of Unistar meters could also be flouted.

“The directive stays in full power, and any try by these DisCos to proceed in contravention of it’ll entice extreme penalties.

“Opposite to current rumours, the approval of recent meter costs by the Nigerian Electrical energy Regulatory Fee (NERC) has no reference to the proposed alternative of Unistar meters by IKEDC and EKEDC.

“The deliberate alternative has been invalidated by each the FCCPC and NERC, and there’s no indication that the affected DisCos have breached our directives.

“It’s important to make clear that Ikeja and Eko DisCos can not proceed with the withdrawal or alternative of the Unistar meters except they totally adjust to NERC’s Order on Structured Alternative of Defective and Out of date Finish-user Buyer Meters within the Nigerian Electrical energy Provide Business (Order No. NERC/246/2021).

“The order mandates that meter replacements should be immediate, with out disrupting service, without charge to the patron, and making certain that customers are usually not subjected to estimated billing attributable to delayed installations.”

The fee reiterated its place, emphasizing that non-compliance with these directives by Ikeja and Eko DisCos is not going to be tolerated.

“Any breach of this directive will entice stiff penalties in keeping with the provisions of current shopper safety legal guidelines,” FCCPC mentioned.

The FCCPC additional urged customers to contact the Fee’s devoted electrical energy line, 08119877785, in the event that they encounter any makes an attempt by Ikeja or Eko DisCos to disobey this directive.