The Nigerian Government has hiked the cost of both single-phase and three-phase meters for the about six million un-metered individual and business electricity consumers in the country.
Platforms Africa reports that a circular dated November 11, 2021, issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, showed that the hike in prices is beginning from Monday, November 15, 2021 .
Platforms Africa reports that about 60 per cent of Nigeria’s electricity consumers are currently exploited through estimated billing.
Meters
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, confirmed this figure in its Second Quarter 2020 Report, latest in the series of its report, noting; “The huge metering gap for end-use customers remain a key challenge in the industry. The records of the Commission indicates that of the 10,516,090 registered electricity customers as at 30 June 2020, only 4,234,759 (40.27%) have been metered.
“Thus, 59.73% of the registered electricity customers are still on estimated billing which has contributed to customer apathy towards payment for electricity bills. In comparison with the first quarter of 2020, the numbers of registered and metered customers increased slightly by 0.36% and 0.07% respectively.
“The increase in registered customers was, in addition to the new connection, due largely to the on-going customer enumeration exercise by DisCos through which unregistered consumers of electricity were brought unto the DisCos’ billing platform. Similarly, the increase in metered customers was attributed to the roll-out of meters under the MAP scheme. The Abuja, Benin, and Eko DisCos had metered more than 50% of their registered electricity customers as of 30 June 2020.”
Order
However, NERC, which ordered the DisCos, to ensure the metering gap is closed by the end of 2021, stated: “To ensure speedy metering of electricity customers in order to meet the target of closing the metering gap in NESI by 31 December 2021, the Commission, in addition to securing waiver of the levy previously imposed on imported meters, continued its monitoring of DisCos’ implementation of and compliance with the provisions of the MAP Regulations to fast-track meter roll-out.”
Consumer complaints
Continuing, it stated: “During the second quarter of 2020, the eleven (11) DisCos received 203,116 complaints from consumers, indicating 0.68% fewer complaints than those received during the first quarter of 2020. In total, the DisCos attended to 189,684 complaints representing an increase of 1.09 percentage points from the preceding quarter.
“The report shows that Ibadan followed by Benin DisCos had the lowest customers’ complaints resolution rates based on the proportion of complaints not addressed in the second quarter of 2020.”
Estimated billing
Nevertheless, it added: “The estimated billing, metering and service interruption remain the most significant areas of concerns for customers, accounting for 64.88% (i.e., 131,789) of the total complaints in the second quarter of 2020. As stated in the preceding reports, to ensure improved customer service delivery, the Commission, on regular basis, continued to monitor and audit customers’ complaint handling and resolution process by DisCos. The Commission also continuously monitors the operation and efficacy of its Forum Offices which were set up to redress on consumersNigeria Hikes Electricity Meters’ Prices
The Nigerian Government has hiked the cost of both single-phase and three-phase meters for the about six million un-metered individual and business electricity consumers in the country.
Platforms Africa reports that a circular dated November 11, 2021, issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, showed that the hike in prices is beginning from Monday, November 15, 2021.
The circular, with reference number NERC/REG/MAP/GEN/751/2, entitled ‘Review of the unit price of end-use meters under the Meter Asset Provider and National Mass Metering Regulations,’ was addressed to managing directors, all electricity distribution companies and all meter asset providers.
In the document, the regulator raised the price of a single-phase meter from the current cost of N44,896.17 to a revised price of N58,661.69.
It also increased the price of a three-phase meter from the current cost of N82,855.19 to a revised rate of N109,684.36.
Platforms Africa reports that about 60 per cent of Nigeria’s electricity consumers are currently exploited through estimated billing.
Meters
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, confirmed this figure in its Second Quarter 2020 Report, latest in the series of its report, noting; “The huge metering gap for end-use customers remain a key challenge in the industry. The records of the Commission indicates that of the 10,516,090 registered electricity customers as at 30 June 2020, only 4,234,759 (40.27%) have been metered.
“Thus, 59.73% of the registered electricity customers are still on estimated billing which has contributed to customer apathy towards payment for electricity bills. In comparison with the first quarter of 2020, the numbers of registered and metered customers increased slightly by 0.36% and 0.07% respectively.
“The increase in registered customers was, in addition to the new connection, due largely to the on-going customer enumeration exercise by DisCos through which unregistered consumers of electricity were brought unto the DisCos’ billing platform. Similarly, the increase in metered customers was attributed to the roll-out of meters under the MAP scheme. The Abuja, Benin, and Eko DisCos had metered more than 50% of their registered electricity customers as of 30 June 2020.”
Order
However, NERC, which ordered the DisCos, to ensure the metering gap is closed by the end of 2021, stated: “To ensure speedy metering of electricity customers in order to meet the target of closing the metering gap in NESI by 31 December 2021, the Commission, in addition to securing waiver of the levy previously imposed on imported meters, continued its monitoring of DisCos’ implementation of and compliance with the provisions of the MAP Regulations to fast-track meter roll-out.”
Consumer complaints
Continuing, it stated: “During the second quarter of 2020, the eleven (11) DisCos received 203,116 complaints from consumers, indicating 0.68% fewer complaints than those received during the first quarter of 2020. In total, the DisCos attended to 189,684 complaints representing an increase of 1.09 percentage points from the preceding quarter.
“The report shows that Ibadan followed by Benin DisCos had the lowest customers’ complaints resolution rates based on the proportion of complaints not addressed in the second quarter of 2020.”
Estimated billing
Nevertheless, it added: “The estimated billing, metering and service interruption remain the most significant areas of concerns for customers, accounting for 64.88% (i.e., 131,789) of the total complaints in the second quarter of 2020. As stated in the preceding reports, to ensure improved customer service delivery, the Commission, on regular basis, continued to monitor and audit customers’ complaint handling and resolution process by DisCos. The Commission also continuously monitors the operation and efficacy of its Forum Offices which were set up to redress on consumers’ complaints not adequately resolved to the customers’ satisfaction by the responsible DisCos.”
