FG DIRECTS PHCN TO IMPORT PREPAID METERS

The Federal
Government has directed the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, (PHCN), to import
commercial number of new pre-payment meters for distribution to consumers
nationwide.

The importation of the meters is aimed at ending the
exploitation of consumers through estimation of their bills as a result of lack
of meters.

The importation which is also based on the nation’s inability to
produce the facility locally is to be carried out through local and foreign
vendors.

The Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission,
NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi who confirmed the development in a telephone interview
said: “It is not the duty of NERC to import the meters. It is the direct
responsibility of electricity distribution companies, DISCOs to do so.

He said the commission has already directed them to import the
new meters without delay. Investigations showed that the directive followed
massive exploitation and complaints of consumers who petitioned the Commission from
different parts of the nation.

The exploitation is said to have gotten to its climax when the
PHCN stopped the issuance of new meters to consumers in all parts of the nation
as well as raise its estimated tariff by over 150 per cent without any explanation.

This, it was learnt compelled consumers who live in two-bedroom
flats that used to pay about N5,000 monthly tariff to now pay between N12,000
and N15,000, depending on the policies and practices of the distribution
companies, DISCOs.

Consumers who live in three-bedroom flats and duplexes pay
between N16, 000 and N20, 000 per month against about N7, 000 they used to pay.

These bills include Value Added Tax and “meter maintenance
charge” even though most consumers do not have meters. Industry sources
remarked that PHCN officials had purposely stopped the issuance of pre-payment
meters after a noticeable drop in revenue as consumers adopted measures to
reduce their tariff.

Consequently, many consumers who have been waiting for months to
get the new meters after upfront payment are compelled to continue to pay bills
estimated based on the so-called “dynamic average” consumption in a particular
locality.

For instance, a few days ago, the youths of Omu-Aran, Irepodun
Local Government Area of Kwara State took to the streets, protesting alleged
extortion by the PHCN.

The protest nearly turned violent but for the timely
intervention of the police. The youths, who carried placards with various
inscriptions, were protesting what they termed illegal billings and extortion
by the PHCN officials.