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NEMSA to audit integrity of JEDC smart meters

By Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi, Jos
09 May 2017   |   4:27 am
Electricity consumers in Jos and its environs, and the management of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company, JEDC Plc, have agreed to send over 1000 JED smart metres to the Nigerian Electricity Management service Agency ....

NEMSA Managing Director/Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, Peter Ewesor,

Electricity consumers in Jos and its environs, and the management of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company, JEDC Plc, have agreed to send over 1000 JED smart metres to the Nigerian Electricity Management service Agency (NEMSA’s) office in Kaduna, for accuracy and validity test.

This follows a series of complaints and petitions trailing the installation of new smart meters by JEDC, which made NEMSA to stop it from further installation of the smart meters that allegedly did not pass through routine tests, and without the seal required by the agency.

It was further alleged that the  new JED smart meters, were not well calibrated, leading to outrageous billings even as Jos residents urged the management of JED and relevant government agency to look into their complaints.

It is against this background that the management of JED and other stakeholders, which include civil society, NEMSA, the state Ministry of Water Resources and Energy, the media, security agencies, and representatives of various communities, have rescheduled May 3rd for smart meters testing services.

This is to afford all stakeholders the opportunity to witness first-hand the meter testing and re certification exercise in Jos by NEMSA.Speaking at the event, the Executive Director, Marketing and Investment, JEDC Plc, Virr Jirbo, said the Disco’s smart meters are an instrument for measuring electricity consumption by customers, adding that they were procured because of the mandate to meter all customers under its areas of coverage.

He advised electricity consumers to adopt a strategy for energy management so as not to spend so much on it, stressing that, “Energy management is in the hands of the consumers.”

According to him, JED as a responsible organisation will not over-charge its customers, adding that the company has nothing to hide, saying this is why it gathered all the stakeholders to carry out the test in a transparent way, and at the end of the exercise, JEDC will be vindicated.

Also speaking, a representative of the communities, Dr. Edwin Ringkwat, commended NEMSA and all the stakeholders for their effort towards resolving the issue between the Disco and its customers.

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