The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has issued permits to Metre Asset Providers, MAPs, of Ikeja and Benin Discos.
The permits which were issued in accordance with Section 4(3) of the MAP regulations is considered a major step towards putting an end to estimated billing in the country.
According to the General Manager, Public Affairs, NERC, Dr Usman Arab, in a statement he issued in Abuja on Friday, the permits were given to the MAPs that were successful in the procurements conducted by Ikeja and Benin DisCos.
He stated that Section 4(3) of the 2018 MAP regulations required all electricity distribution licensees to engage MAPs that would assist as investors to close the metering gap and thus eliminate the estimated billing in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, NESI.
He said for Ikeja DisCo, Mojec International Limited had been appointed to provide 399,790 metres.
Consolidated Infrastructure Group Ltd is to provide 397,922 metres.
In the same vein, New Hamshire Capital Ltd, he said, had been appointed to supply 276,699 metres within the Ikeja Disco’s coverage areas under MAP while Benin Disco had FLT Energy System Ltd, G-Unit Engineering Ltd, Inlaks Power Solution Ltd, Sabrud Consortium Nigeria Ltd and Turbo Energy Ltd to provide metres within its coverage areas.
The roll out of metres, he said, NERC had ordered should be May 1.
He stated that metres would be installed within 10 days of making payments going by the dictate of 18 (3) of the MAP regulations.
MAPs he said would charge an upfront of N36,991.50 for single phase meters and N67,055.85 for three phase metres.
He added: “These costs of metres are inclusive of supply, installation, maintenance and replacement of meters over its technical life.
“The commission shall monitor closely the roll out plan of distribution licensees and overall compliance with the regulations and various service agreements by the MAP and electricity distribution licensees.”
