NERC warns against forcing customers to pay for meter replacement

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), on Monday, said it is illegal for some distribution companies to force consumers to replace meters.

NERC, in a public notice, expressed concern over the development, stressing that asking customers to apply and pay for the replacement of faulty or outdated electricity meters contravenes extant regulations.

This practice, NERC said, violates Order No. NERC/246/2021, which governs the structured replacement of faulty and obsolete meters across Nigeria’s electricity supply industry.

According to the Order, DisCos are prohibited from migrating metered customers to estimated billing due to meter faults or obsolescence. If a customer’s meter is deemed faulty or outdated, it is DisCo’s responsibility to replace the meter at no cost to the customer, as long as the customer did not cause damage.

The order aims to protect consumers from bearing the financial burden of meter replacement, which, according to the Commission, should be covered by the DisCos.

“The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission remains committed to safeguarding customers’ rights and ensuring that electricity distribution companies comply with the established standards,” the Commission stated.

It added that failure by DisCos to comply with these regulations will attract regulatory penalties.

NERC asked customers to report any instances of non-compliance by DisCos to ensure that their rights are protected and that regulatory standards are enforced.

Complaints can be submitted through the Commission’s official customer service channels.