Replace prepaid meters without billing consumers - FCCPC CEO tells DisCos

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has directed electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to create a phased approach to replace outdated prepaid meters, ensuring consumers are not unfairly billed in the process. 

 

 

FCCPC’s executive vice-chairman and CEO, Tunji Bello, spoke on Thursday at a stakeholders’ meeting on metering issues in Abuja. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had previously mandated DisCos to replace phased-out meters. Ikeja Electric, one of Nigeria’s major DisCos, recently announced the discontinuation of support for Unistar prepaid meters due to technical upgrades and a token identifier (TID) rollover issue, effective November 14.

Key stakeholders, including the NERC, Nigeria Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), DisCos, and Unistar’s manufacturer, attended the meeting. Bello emphasized that while phasing out meters is necessary, the replacement should prioritize consumer rights, including clarity on the process and cost transparency.

According to Bello, systemic inefficiencies and impunity among some service providers result in numerous consumer challenges, such as billing inaccuracies and inadequate customer service. He condemned practices like billing consumers on faulty meters and imposing upfront meter costs without refunds, which violate the NERC Meter Asset Provider and National Mass Metering Regulations 2021.

Bello warned that future regulatory breaches will prompt immediate corrective action, stressing that power shortages do not justify consumer abuses. NERC’s head of consumer engagement, Zubair Babatunde, and NEMSA’s assistant manager, Okeme Obiabo, reiterated the importance of following proper procedures for meter replacements. They assured consumers that they would not bear replacement costs, reinforcing NERC’s commitment to consumer protection in the metering process.