A power sector analyst, Theresa Ika, has said the over 60 per cent decline of meter installation by electricity distribution company (DisCos) will retard growth in the sector. In an interview with New Telegraph over the weekend, she called on the Discos to improve their meter installation so that more customers would have access to prepaid meters.
She said: “The report that meter installation in the second quarter of 2024 reduced by over 60 per cent is not a good development. One had expected that meter installation would have increased given the numerous complaints by customers and their requests for prepaid meters. “DisCos should increase their meter installations so that more customers will have access to prepaid meters to ensure fairness and payment compliance.”
The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in its second quarter 2024 report revealed that meter installation by Discos reduced by 60.86 per cent in the second quarter of 2024. NERC stated that only 49,188 meters were installed during the period, marking a 60.86 per cent reduction from the 125,664 meters installed in the first quarter.
According to it, 35,985 of the meters, accounting for 73.16 per cent of the total, were installed under the Meter Asset Providers (MAP) framework. NERC expressed the desire that DisCos should utilize a mix of the five meter financing frameworks outlined in the 2021 Meter Asset Provider (MAP) and National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).
It stated that these frameworks are designed to help DisCos close metering gaps and provide protection for customers against potential exploitation resulting from the absence of meters.