NERC begins new meter payment regime, 1-face Meter=N25,000

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), on Monday commenced the new metering scheme, with an official order mandating the Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to commence implementation of the Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) system.

The Chairman NERC, Sam Amadi, told The Guardian Wednesday that the rate of acquiring the meters remained the same (depending on categories of meter) as obtainable in the former metering scheme.

The single phase pre-paid meters is sold for N25, 000, while three phase meters goes for N50, 000.

A statement from Assistant General Manager, Media, Maryam Yaya Abubakar, Wednesday, said that the new scheme mandated that meters should be installed within 45 days of payment.

It would be recalled that CAPMI came about due to the slow pace of customer metering by the DISCOs, as well as the high level of complaints received from customers and dissatisfaction with the current estimated billing practices.

“CAPMI provides a platform for willing customers to pay the cost of the meter into a dedicated account jointly managed by the DISCOs and meter vendor/installer.  Once payment has been effected, the customer will have their meter installed within 45 days, by a NERC accredited vendor/installer,” it stated.

Amadi, however, explained: “The cost of the meters was arrived at using the standard market price plus the most efficient installation costs. The DISCOs submitted data based on costs submitted by the DISCOs during the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) review, as well as review of prices supplied by local manufacturers.”

In arriving at a list of meter vendors and Installers of meters to partake in the CAPMI scheme, Amadi said that NERC followed a comprehensive due process by first advertising and inviting the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to supervise the process of certification based on the metering code. - Guardian