Stakeholders seek explanation over meter funding as DisCos raise prices

Industry experts have asked relevant institutions and stakeholders to account for previous investments aimed at addressing Nigeria’s metering deficit.

They are worried that despite repeated injections through government initiatives and private sector programmes to improve metering, millions of Nigerians still lack access to accurate billing, fuelling estimated billing.

This comes on the back of an increase in the cost of meters. According to the distribution companies (DisCos), the cost of a single-phase meter has risen from N117,000 to over N140,000.

According to the price template by Eko Electricity Distribution Company, which takes effect this month, a single-phase meter goes for N142,548.95 while a three-phase meter is N232,008.04. For Enugu DisCo, a single phase sells for N136,029.04 while three phases are N227,766.44.

The new prices, according to the DisCos, are in line with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) order on deregulation of Meter Asset Providers (MAP).
They emphasized the need for affordable meters that meet minimum industry requirements to improve accessibility and delivery.

National President of the Association for Public Policy Analysis (APPA), Princewill Okorie, questioned the utilisation of N59 billion allocated to the 11 DisCos to procure one million meters.

He noted that of the N59 billion allocated, the DisCos have only repaid N7 billion in four years.

He also questioned the reasons consumers would be charged for meters.
“NERC increased tariff to enable discos to generate money to pay back the loan of N59 billion, which we have never benefited from. The sector is used to exploiting Nigerians; the regulator encourages exploitation. Why will somebody who is not a producer of the product be the one to fix the price? How much is a meter?” he questioned.

The National Coordinator of All Electricity Consumers Protection Forum (AECPF), Adeola Samuel-Ilori, said the price increases are subject to foreign exchange change.
“NERC has refused to protect consumers by activating the section of Electricity Act, 2023 as amended to compulsorily DisCos responsible for meter provisions,” he noted.