[dropcap]B[/dropcap]abatunde Fashola, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, on Wednesday, warned electricity consumers against by-passing pre-paid meters, lamenting that the unwholesome act was common even among the elites in the society. The minister gave the warning during the flag-off of the second phase of the 222,728 mass metering program of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) in the Federal Capital Territory on Wednesday.
This is even as Shehu Malami, the chairman of AEDC Board of Directors, disclosed that the fresh metering programme would cost a whopping N10 billion.
Historically, the government has taken bold steps to resolve this issue through the Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) and of recent, the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) policies. “The commitment of N10 billion for the provision of 222,728 pieces of meters alone by AEDC is therefore a bold move by the company that clearly debunks the claim that DisCos are benefiting from estimated billing.
“This project will last for five months after which all metering programs will come under the Meter Asset Provider Policy that has been put in place by the NERC. He explained that the intervention schemes stemmed from the fact that shortage of meter or the lack of it was both at the root of the huge ATC&C losses the DisCos currently suffer as well as the source of the frequent disagreement between them and their customers.
He also added that a successfully executed metering program would enhance both transparencies in the bill of customers as well as energy accountability. While warning customers to desist from bypassing of meters, the minister said that such unscrupulous activities would be affecting the revenue recovery capacity of the DisCos.
Earlier, Fashola, who was represented by Diretor of Distribution Systems Department in the ministry, Brisalla Sapke, urged the customers to apply discretion in the use of the meters.
He further stated that the minister always emphasised the need for the distribution companies to effectively meter the customers as it would make easier for revenue generation and reduce losses.