Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, a regulatory body of power industry in Nigeria, has vowed to stop estimated billing in the country.
To this end, the commission reaffirmed its commitment to expedite a closure of the current metering gap with a view to limiting the practice of estimated billing in the Nigeria.
NERC in a statement issued Tuesday by its General Manager Public Affairs Dr. Usman Abba Arabi also stated that the Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) are obligated to ensure that their consumers are metered as contained in Meter Asset Provider (MAP) Regulations 2018.
The statement said the commission was reviewing the MAP procurement reports, adding that successful Meter Asset Providers will be announced after a meeting with the DisCos and preferred bidders next week.
“The obligation to ensure that all electricity consumers are metered remains with the Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) under Meter Asset Provider (MAP) Regulations 2018.
“The DisCos were expected to engage MAP(s) within 120 days of coming into effect of the Regulations. The deadline was fixed for July 31, 2018 but was extended to November 30, 2018 to engender more competition between potential MAPs thus providing better value for consumers.
“Several of the DisCos experienced slippage in the timeline stipulated by the commission and this infraction is being handled in line with the enforcement regulations of the commission.
“The commission is currently reviewing the MAP procurement reports and successful Meter Asset Providers shall be announced after a meeting with the DisCos and preferred bidders scheduled to hold next week.
“The commission wishes to reaffirm its commitment to expedite a closure of the current metering gap thus limiting the practice of estimated billing to very exceptional cases in line with the provisions of the MAP regulations’’, the statement said.
