By Jennifer Y Omiloli
Mr Godwin Idemudia, the General Manager, Corporate Communications of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), on Thursday communicated the organization’s status to initiate Meter Assess Providers (MAPs) plan to clients inside its system.
Idemudia told newsmen in Lagos that the MAP program would address a portion of the difficulties related with metering gap inside its territories of inclusion.
Daybreak reviews that on April 5, the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) issued grants to Meter Asset Providers (MAPs) to take off new meters not later than May 1, 2019.
The EKEDC’S representative said that the MAP activities would connect the metering gap, including that MAP was acquainted by Federal Government with location metering related issues.
“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 additionally commended the legal executive for their brief judgment on vandals, including that numerous vandals had been arraigned and got judgment.
He said that the obligations of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) debts was running into billions, including that the administration was completing a ton to recoup the debts.
“We have metered considerable numbers of customers since 2013 in thousands.
“We do not consider much hindrance or much challenges 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 out rightly for the meters or pay installmentally over a period of 10 years,’’ he said.
Dr Usman Abba Arabi, the General Manager, Public Affairs Department of NERC, in a statement on April 23, said clients of Discos ought to anticipate from the beginning of rollout date for meters to be introduced in their premises inside 10 working long days of making payment to MAPs as per Section 18 (3) of the MAP Regulations 2018.
He said the Commission would screen intently the rollout plan of conveyance licensees and by and large consistence with the guideline and various service agreement by the MAPs and power circulation licensees.
