The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc. announced on Wednesday that it would start the distribution of free meters to its customers under the Federal Government’s National Mass Metering Programme.
This, the electricity company said, would help in bridging the metering gap in the country.
According to IBEDC, the exercise, which would begin in the third week of November, would cushion the effect of the Service Reflective Tariff on electricity consumers.
Mr John Ayodele, Chief Operating Officer of the Company, in a statement, said the company would roll out via a series of metering registration and distribution points across different locations within its franchise area.
It stated that the metering initiative was aimed at ensuring a seamless process that allows customers to register and be metered quickly after following due process.
It read that in the first phase of the programme, running till the end of December, more than 100,000 prepaid meters would be rolled out to customers who are duly registered, passed the technical evaluation and paid under the Meter Asset Provider Scheme.
It stated that the primary objectives of the National Mass Metering Programme are to increase the metering rate in Nigeria, curb losses and increase financial flows to the industry at large.
“Part of the objectives also includes the elimination of estimated billing, improving network monitoring capability and strengthening the local content in meter manufacturing in Nigeria.
“The National Mass Metering Programme is expected to roll out six million meters over the next 18 to 36 months across Nigeria.
“IBEDC also wishes to inform its esteemed customers that it has received the newly approved capping policy-order NERC/214/2020 from our Regulators, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. The policy took effect from the first of November.
“The capping order would ensure that estimated billing is more equitable and just pending the time all our customers are fully metered,” it read.
