Improve: Discos might transfer three million subscribers to estimated billing

Besides there’s a last-minute intervention, about three million electrical energy clients could also be compelled into estimated billing or outright darkness as a consequence of their failure to improve their pay as you go meters.

That is as a shopper group estimated that half of the 5,993,340 metered clients can be caught within the net of the federal government coverage.

However one other group opined that anyone who has not upgraded his meter till now must be a kind of Nigerians who wish to show lackadaisical attitudes in direction of authorities insurance policies, saying the improve began final 12 months.

Prior to now 10 days, the Nigerian Electrical energy Regulatory Fee has repeatedly reminded Nigerians of the necessity to improve their meters.

“Have you ever up to date your meter but? From November 24, 2024, you could not be capable to recharge your meter with out updating. Nonetheless, updating is straightforward and free.

“DisCos have already commenced issuance of two free Key Change Tokens which can replace your meter.

“The replace won’t have an effect on the models in your meter, nor will it make your meter run quicker than standard. Contact your DisCo for extra info,” the NERC mentioned in a publish on its handles.

Because the NERC continued to sensitise customers to the meter replace, a lot of the distribution firms appeared unbothered till the train elapsed on Sunday.

As of yesterday, there have been varied complaints from clients who’ve but to replace their meters.

Whereas some clients mentioned they encountered technical glitches of their efforts to replace their meters, others complained of a scarcity of electrical energy and lots of mentioned they obtained suggestions that their meters couldn’t be up to date they usually had to get replaced.

Earlier, the distribution firms in Lagos informed their customers that each one Unistar meters can be phased out by November 14 2024 as a consequence of Token Identifier rollover.

Prospects utilizing Unistar meters had been requested to pay for the alternative of their meters, sparking outrage from affected clients.

The Unistar meter producers denied claims that their meters are outdated. They said that their meters utilising the cardboard meter expertise are absolutely upgradeable and appropriate with the STS meter expertise.

The Federal Competitors and Shopper Safety Fee additionally intervened, urging the DisCos to halt their alternative of Unistar pay as you go meters.

The FCCPC’s Government Vice Chairman and Chief Government Officer, Tunji Bello, at a current assembly held on the FCCPC headquarters in Abuja and was attended by representatives from the NERC, the Nigerian Electrical energy Administration Providers Company NEMSA, varied electrical energy distribution firms and Unistar Hitech Methods Restricted, expressed concern over practices that require customers to pay upfront for meters with out reimbursement, calling it a direct violation of the NERC Meter Asset Supplier and Nationwide Mass Metering Rules 2021.

He additionally famous that DisCos regularly locations customers with defective meters on estimated billing, saying that is prohibited beneath NERC’s laws.

Bello cited an instance of a criticism acquired by FCCPC from an Ikeja Electrical buyer, who had expressed frustration at being requested to interchange a functioning meter at a big private price.

To stop potential exploitation, FCCPC  directed that each one meter alternative processes be performed transparently, with prices borne by the DisCos and never handed on to customers.

Bello careworn that FCCPC would implement strict compliance with these regulatory necessities to guard customers from arbitrary expenses and estimated billing.

The NERC’s Order mandates that DisCos should prioritise metering for unmetered clients beneath the Nationwide Mass Metering Programme and comply with strict tips for changing defective or out of date meters.

“Moreover, DisCos are prohibited from putting clients on estimated billing as a consequence of delays in meter alternative, as new meters should be put in instantly upon eradicating any defective or out of date unit,” the FCCPC boss mentioned.

Nonetheless, it seems the DisCos didn’t heed the FCCPC’s directive FCCPC as complaints abound from clients about being requested to pay for the alternative of meters that can’t be upgraded.

Reacting to this, the NERC issued a press release warning DisCos to desist from asking clients to pay for meter alternative.

The fee mentioned no buyer must be made to pay for the alternative of any defective or out of date meter.

In keeping with a press release final week, the regulator mentioned it was conscious that some DisCos had instructed their clients to pay for the alternative of their defective or out of date meters.

“The Nigerian Electrical energy Regulatory Fee is conscious that some Distribution Firms have instructed clients to use and pay for the alternative of defective and out of date meters inside their franchise areas. This instruction contravenes the Fee’s Order No. NERC/246/2021 on the Structured Alternative of Defective and Out of date end-use Buyer Meters within the Nigerian Electrical energy Provide Trade,” the NERC mentioned.

In keeping with the regulator, the order states that no metered buyer must be forcefully migrated to estimated billing.

It was additionally emphasised that any buyer’s meter adjudged to be out of date or defective should be changed freed from cost by the DisCo, offered the injury was not attributable to the client.

“The Order clearly states that no buyer with a meter must be forcefully migrated to estimated billing. If any buyer’s meter is adjudged by any DisCo to be out of date or defective, it’s the accountability of the DisCo to interchange the meter freed from cost, offered that the fault was not attributable to the client,” it was said.

Talking with The PidomNigeria earlier, the Vice Chairman of NERC, Musiliu Oseni, said that meters that aren’t upgradable will should be phased out.

“Operationally, if they are saying some meters usually are not upgradable, they’ll resolve to section them out. However as they take away the meters, based mostly on the rule, they have to exchange them. It’s the accountability of the DisCos to interchange them,” he mentioned.

He emphasised that throughout the phase-out course of, no buyer must be positioned on estimated billing or be denied entry to electrical energy.

He identified that if clients had been requested to buy meters beneath the MAP framework, DisCos should present a transparent mechanism for refunds, as they’re obligated to refund the purchasers.

Nonetheless, clients who spoke to our correspondent lamented that the DisCos have been doing the opposite.

A buyer of the Ikeja Electrical complained of how 5 meters had been phased out in a property of eight flats and the flats had been positioned on estimated billing, with every requested to pay N268,000 per thirty days.

“In a property I handle at Ikeja, a block of eight flats, IKEDC started by phasing out meters. 5 meters have been phased out, and the development continues.  They requested particular person flats to use for direct connection to the pole with month-to-month estimated payments. Then, every flat ought to apply and pay for brand spanking new meters they by no means introduced. The estimated invoice now charged for one month per flat is N268,000. How come a three-bedroom flat will eat N268,000 per thirty days? Some don’t even have an air conditioner.

“Three tenants every simply acquired the identical invoice this week, no matter their consumption. They went to the IKEDC workplace to complain, and the officers informed them to go and pay their payments,” the property supervisor complained.

Talking in an interview with our correspondent, the Government Director of the Electrical energy Shopper Safety Advocacy Centre, Princewill Okorie, expressed displeasure over the variety of customers that may be plunged into estimated billing over the meter improve.

In keeping with Okorie, greater than half of the present metered clients would lose their meters and be a part of the over 7 million unmetered ones.

“Greater than half of metered clients will likely be subjected to estimated billing by this coverage. The identical meter that persons are crying for in order that they’ll know what they’re consuming, you need to frustrate them with this technique. You need to carry this technique to make extra customers go into estimated billing. Are the DisCos obeying the estimated billing methodology accepted by NERC?

“So, that is an oblique manner of placing Nigerians underestimation. And I do know that, and not using a meter, whether or not you utilize gentle or not, they offers you a invoice. There was a grid collapse for about 5 days; the second gentle got here, these unmetered customers had been made to pay as if there was an electrical energy provide for twenty-four hours. It’s wickedness in opposition to the poor,” Okorie lamented.

The buyer rights activist puzzled what the FCCPC is doing to make sure electrical energy customers are shielded from all types of exploitation.

“So far as I’m involved, the federal government ought to take decisive steps to guard Nigerians in opposition to the exploitative tendency of the distribution firms and NERC. The regulator must be investigated, and if potential, sanctioned.

What’s the FCCPC doing? Are they conscious that customers are about to be subjected to this? How is the FCCPC defending customers? Was it not the patron safety fee that spoke the opposite day, and the DisCos mentioned they’ve suspended it, now that they need to do that, what’s the fee saying? What number of metered and unmetered customers do the FCCPC know?” he queried.

Prospects share expertise

A buyer of the Ikeja DisCo, Dare Oguntuase, reported to NERC, his unsuccessful efforts to retrieve his meter allegedly taken away by the DisCo in September.

“NERC ought to do greater than advocacy. Our Discos are irresponsible, fraudulent, and extremely unpatriotic. Ikeja Electrical is the worst. I’ve been within the darkness for 63 days now and nonetheless counting. My meter No. 47001599126, was retrieved for restore/alternative since twentieth September,” he mentioned.

Esther Madu, an X person, mentioned her meter was not accepting the token for the improve.

“Somebody please assist me. I’ve recharged greater than N8,000 on my pay as you go meter however my meter has been rejecting the token since Monday. Subsequently, I haven’t been ready to make use of electrical energy in my dwelling since Monday,” she cried out.

A buyer of the Port Harcourt DisCo, Engr Gabby, reported, “My meter is rejecting the KCT given to me and I’ve dropped a criticism to the PHED, up to now, no answer.”

Patrick, additionally beneath the Port Harcourt DisCo, pleaded with the regulator to increase the deadline, saying his space has been out of energy provide as a consequence of vandalism.

“Our transformer armored cable was vandalised. PHED refused to repair it. We’re contributing N6,000 every to interchange the cable. Attempt to lengthen this deadline,” Patrick informed NERC on X.

Olutosin Runsewe queried why previous meter customers can’t improve their meters.

When requested if she had been in a position to improve her meter, Runsewe replied, “No, they mentioned Unistar meters can’t be upgraded.”

One other buyer of the IKEDC, Ikhade Agboghayemeh, shared his chat with the corporate, which informed him to request a meter alternative when he sought info on the way to replace his Unistar meter.

A buyer of the Abuja DisCo merely recognized as Austine reported that his defective meter was not repaired virtually a 12 months in the past.

“Please intervene in my case with the Abuja Electrical energy Distribution Firm. My meter has been defective for nearly a 12 months now. All my efforts to get them to restore it have failed,” Austine begged NERC.

Replying to requires an improve, an electrical energy buyer mentioned, “You guys are humorous, nonetheless not sufficient homes metered. You need to out-date current meters after upgrading with none plans of alternative. The DisCos are making clients pay by way of their noses for meter alternative. Should you don’t pay, they don’t change it or they place you on estimated billing.”

Additionally, a shopper recognized as Mathew CB, voiced his frustration in Enugu.

“How can we improve the meter once we don’t have gentle right here in Emene Enugu State for weeks? You will discover out from Enugu DisCo why they’re irritating folks dwelling on this a part of Enugu State,” Mathew said.

Alabi Alapa was involved about whether or not or not the illiterates perceive the method of meter improve, asking, “Do you mandate the DisCos to teach all these previous girls who reside alone and are illiterate?”

In his case, one other electrical energy person, Ayo Olaleye, famous that the response he obtained whereas attempting to replace his meter mentioned, “Your meter just isn’t certified for TID Rollover.”

Meter alternative might proceed until March 2025 – DisCos

In a current interview, the Government Director, Analysis and Advocacy, the Affiliation of Nigerian Electrical energy Distributors, Sunday Oduntan, assured Nigerians that the DisCos would exchange their out of date or defective electrical energy meters for gratis to them.

“Any meter that has misplaced its integrity, both by means of being out of date or by means of it not conforming to our system. We might want to take away, retract, and exchange these meters. The difficulty of price is what I now should make very clear. For Nigerians, be assured that once we come to the doorstep, we retrieve your meter, we will exchange it at our personal price and for gratis to you,” Oduntan disclosed.

He added that this grew to become crucial for price restoration.

“One of many the reason why we need to retrieve some meters and exchange them is as a result of they’re making us lose some huge cash. In a selected Disco, we now have 10,927 of these meters. Over time, solely about 3,200 of them got here out to purchase credit score. The others, we don’t know the place they’re. That’s a case of great bypass. Any meter that makes it simple for my clients to bypass and steal vitality, I’ll take away and exchange it.

“What Nigerians don’t need is for me to provide them additional burdens. So, let or not it’s a matter between me and my regulator. My regulator mentioned, ‘Exchange these meters at your price.’ No downside. After I sit down with my regulator, what I have to ask is, I’ve changed these meters, so what occurs? As a result of I’m not the one which produces or provides meters. The suppliers should be paid, and to pay them, someway the associated fee needs to be recovered,” he posited.

Oduntan revealed that the meter alternative train can be achieved between now and the primary quarter of 2025.

He emphasised that it’s not within the curiosity of the DisCos to place clients on estimation as a result of it results in arguments between distributors and clients, who he additionally accused of losing vitality when not metered.

Prospects blamed

In the meantime, the Nationwide Coordinator of All Electrical energy Customers Discussion board, Adeola Samuel-Ilori, mentioned anybody who has not up to date his meter ought to have himself accountable.

Samuel-Ilori mentioned the improve of meters began final 12 months and all customers ought to have upgraded their meters by now.

In keeping with him, an extension was achieved by way of his group’s steady engagement with NERC.

“I consider with the kind of engagement and enlightenment on it to customers since final 12 months, many should have achieved it with none hassles.

“If any buyer has not achieved the upgrading until now, it might be out of the lackadaisical perspective of some Nigerians who like to attend until the final minute or till punitive measures are taken earlier than they do the needful.

“I cannot fold arms and watch the DisCos do something that can tamper with customers rights, even when it means approaching the courtroom of competent jurisdiction. However this meter improve just isn’t about sending many to the estimated billing system,” he careworn.

Contacted, a Senior Public Relations Officer on the Federal Competitors and Shopper Safety Fee, Nicholas Utsalo, informed our correspondent to ship an official electronic mail, which has not been responded to since Saturday.

Our correspondent learnt that these whose meters weren’t up to date would both select to be in darkness or revert to the estimated billing system if they can not wait until the day their DisCos will take into account them for a brand new meter.

Likewise, people might resolve to purchase their very own meter whether it is taking too lengthy to get a free gadget from their utility firms.