W’Bank targets 1.25m meters as FG vows to end estimated billing

•  DisCos to get $500m to improve power supply
Despite initial backlash and delay from local assemblers, the World Bank, in Abuja, yesterday, went ahead with a plan to provide about 1.25 million electricity meters, even as the Federal Government insisted estimated billing must end.

With over seven million consumers yet to be metered, the Federal Government’s mass metering programme, designed to close the gap, had met a deadlock after its first phase was marred by controversies and allegations of corruption.

Yesterday, bidders who had been jostling to provide meters, packed out a hall at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in the Wuse Area of the Federal Capital Territory. Also, representatives of the government looked through documents to find suppliers for the assets, a development that would eventually mark return of the metering programme.

The Federal Government, at the event, insisted the initiative is committed to delivering reliable and cleaner electricity to Nigerian people and businesses.

Assistant General Manager in charge of World Bank Projects at TCN, Tukur Bamali, who spoke at the forum, said the reform would improve the performance of distribution companies (DisCos).

According to him, over $500 million is being provided by the World Bank: $150 million would be expended on metering across eleven distribution companies while $350 million would be given to DisCos directly to improve power supply.

The metering project would take about 18 months after the bidding process is completed and contracts are signed with suppliers, Bamali said, adding that it would be rounded off around the first quarter of 2025.

He disclosed that four million meters under phase one are on track, even as the government is engaging with CBN, which has not been able to provide the N200 billion required for the project.

Bamali affirmed that there is a need to consistently meter consumers to bring an end to estimated billing of end users.