Kehinde Fajobi
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has issued a January 1, 2025, deadline for electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to complete the migration of Standard Transfer Specifications (STS) meters for all customers.
In a statement released on Tuesday via its X handle, NERC warned of daily penalties for each meter not migrated after the deadline.
The ultimatum was issued during the Fourth Quarter 2024 Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) stakeholders meeting.
The commission stated, “NERC has directed DisCos to rapidly conclude the migration of STS-Meters for all their customers to prevent disruption of service.
“Daily penalties will be imposed for each meter not migrated effective from 1st January 2025.”
NERC also reminded DisCos of their responsibility to replace faulty or obsolete meters within their franchise areas.
It emphasised that, under the Customer Protection Regulation 2023, DisCos are prohibited from charging customers for meter replacements or switching them to estimated billing.
At an earlier stakeholders’ meeting in November, Tunji Bello, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), urged DisCos to respect consumer rights in metering processes.
He said, “We are here today because consumers’ rights in metering must be a priority. The recent challenges, especially the arbitrary billing practices and the lack of transparency in metering, are unacceptable.
“We must ensure that consumers are treated fairly and that all practices adhere to the guidelines set out by regulatory bodies like the NERC.”
NERC reiterated its commitment to ensuring compliance and safeguarding consumer rights in the power sector.