The Eko Electricity Distribution Company worries if Nigerians are ready to pay for meter outright or in installments over a period of 10 years

The Eko Electricity Distribution Company, EKEDC, is ready to commence Meter Assess Providers, MAPs, scheme to customers within its network. Godwin Idemudia, general manager, Corporate Communications, EKEDC, said the MAP programme would address some of the challenges associated with metering gap within its areas of coverage.

Idemudia told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos, on Thursday, May 2, that MAP initiatives would bridge the metering gap, adding that MAP was introduced by federal government to address metering related problems. It could be recalled that on April 5, the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission, NERC, issued permits to MAPs to roll-out new meters not later than May 1, 2019.

“It is a welcome development. This would be a new dawn in the power sector. Government should be commended for the initiative geared towards ending metering gap in the country and ensuring all electricity consumers within the Discos are metered to abolish estimated billings. EKEDC is fully ready for MAP.

“With the MAP project on, we strongly believe the metering issues will be addressed, while estimated billings will also be fully addressed when meters are available. All areas of our network are potential pilot scheme for MAP. Government appointed the vendors for the MAP programme to drive the project,” he said.

Idemudia also lauded the judiciary for their prompt ruling in cases involving vandals, adding that many of them  had been prosecuted and judgement given. He said the debts of ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs was running into billions, adding that the management was doing a lot to recover the debts.

“We have metered considerable numbers of customers since 2013 in thousands. We do not consider much hindrance or much challenge in the ongoing MAP scheme, but one thing that worries me is if Nigerians are ready to pay for meters? The issue is either you pay outright for the meters or installments over a period of 10 years.”

– May 3, 2019 @ 14:05 GMT |