The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has revealed plans to allow electricity customers to get prepaid meters and pay at a later date.
Nathan Shatti, NERC’s commissioner for finance and management services, said this at a press conference in Lagos on Thursday, adding that the initiative will begin in August.
According to NERC, the one-phase prepaid meter will be available for N36, 992 and three-phase for N67,055.
Shatt, who said 42 meter service providers have been mobilised for the operation, added that they have started producing new meters from May 1.
“Although the installations did not commence immediately across the country as anticipated, due to the need to finalise some documentations and also mobilise the supply of meters,” he said.
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“I am happy to report that the installations of meters have now commenced across various DisCo franchise areas.
“Currently, we have asked or encouraged the MAPs to concentrate on the upfront payment for obvious reasons. The payment by instalment is scheduled to commence on August 1, 2019.”
Shatti said repayment for the cost of the meter services will be done monthly through metering service charge while vending.
“Discos have the responsibility to make the areas for meter deployment ready in line with MAP regulation and the planned roll-out,” he said.
“MAPs will then determine the type of meter the customer needs and the customer will decide how long (the period) he/she plans to pay for the metering services.
“After confirming the type of meter and period of repayment, the MAP will install meters across the whole area in an organised and systematic manner – no exception, all customers without meters in those areas must be metered by the MAP).”