Meters yet to arrive Edo, state govt laments
The Federal Government, yesterday, dismissed claims of discrimination in the distribution and installation of newly procured smart electricity meters.
 
Speaking in a forum organised by the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) with relevant agencies, including the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), and Distribution Companies from across the country in attendance, the Director General, BPE, Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi, said the forum was necessary for clarification of salient issues shrouding the new smart meters.

The project, which aims to bridge the metering gap across the country, comes under the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP), a $500 million World Bank-supported intervention designed to improve the performance and financial sustainability of Nigeria’s Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos).
 
Focusing on closing the metering gap currently at about 5.3 million by NERC, the government said that metering homes will assist in reducing commercial losses, enhance revenue generation, and improve service delivery to electricity consumers.
 
The government also reiterated its commitment to transparency in the process of acquiring the meters by informing citizens, stressing that nobody would be denied the opportunity when necessary. The government was speaking in view of allegations of exploitation by electricity officials, which has led to numerous people being unable to access the pre-paid meters after official and unofficial payments.

According to Gbeleyi, 20 per cent of the total meters would be set aside to replace aged and non-functional ones, while the remaining, which come in one and three phases, respectively, would be deployed to those who applied within 48 hours and without any form of discrimination.
 
He therefore warned against any form of discrimination or financial extortion in the distribution or installation by officials.

MEANWHILE, the Edo State Government, yesterday, said the meters released by the Federal Government for free onward distribution to electricity consumers had yet to get to the state.
 
The Commissioner for Power, Paul Usenbor, who disclosed this in Benin, warned that the state government would not allow any irregularities in the distribution of the meters.
 
“As we speak, the free meters have not arrived Edo. We will not accept irregularities in the distribution of free metres,” he lamented.
 
Usenbor, who said investors who show interest in the power sector in the state appeared not to be serious-minded, stressed that some of the investors were hawking for letters from the state government with which they would seek loans from banks.
 
The Commissioner disclosed that Governor Monday Okpebholo has tasked his ministry to follow due standard and technicality to ensure those who have the requisite capacity get the licence to generate and distribute power in the state.