Electricity consumers have voiced opposition against a move by the Federal Government to hike the cost of single-phase and three-phase meters.
The government announced the meter price increase in a circular dated November 11, 2021, issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and addressed to managing directors, all electricity distribution companies and all meter asset providers.
The circular, with reference number NERC/REG/MAP/GEN/751/2, was entitled ‘Review of the unit price of end-use meters under the Meter Asset Provider and National Mass Metering Regulations’.
In the document, the regulator raised the price of a single-phase meter from N44,896.17 to N58,661.69, and that of a three-phase meter from N82,855.19 to N109,684.36.
According to NERC, all prices are exclusive of Value Added Tax.
Reacting, the president of Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, Kunle Olubiyo, said the government should reintroduce or modify the Credit Advance Payment for Metering Implementation scheme, introduced in 2013 to allow customers to be repaid by Discos when they purchase meters.
He added, “It is a disservice to power users that we don’t have a sound working metering system up till now. Since customers are not equity stakeholders in the share of Discos, they cannot invest in the businesses of these Discos.
“So if we pay for meters, which we are not supposed to do, they must refund us back the money as allowed in the CAPMI model. Also, the regulator must be seen to be firm in this matter.”
Also commenting on the hike in meter prices, the President, Electricity Consumers Association of Nigeria, James Chijioke, wondered why the government and its agencies were aggravating the plights of power users.
The legal practitioner said, “ECAN is deeply concerned with the increase in the cost of prepaid meters despite the current hardship faced by consumers nationwide. We believe that NERC should look at the implementation of policies that will help stabilise consumers not the ones that aggravate the burden and price electricity out of the reach of low-income earners.”
