OpeOluwani Akintayo
20 November 2017, Sweetcrude, Lagos – The Nigerian Electricity Commission, NERC, has issued a warning to the electricity Distribution Companies or Discos to install all meters that have been paid for under the Credit Advanced Payment Metering Implementation, CAPMI.
In a tweet through its official Twitter platform quoting its Commissioner, Consumer Affairs, Dr. Moses Arigun, NERC on Monday urged the Discos to install meters already paid for during the period for which the scheme lasted.
CAPMI was initiated by NERC in 2015 to address the slow pace of customer metering by the 11 distribution companies.
The initiative allows willing customers to pay for their meters, after which the Discos will then refund either in cash or equivalent energy unit.
However, early 2017, NERC instructed that CAPMI be wounded down following various abnormalities that plagued the process.
According to NERC, the decision to enforce compliance by the Discos, was agreed upon at its 21st ministerial meeting, which was attended by the Minister of State, Surveillance, Suleiman Zarma Hassan, and Permanent Secretary, Engr. Louis Edozie..
“@NERCNG at 21st Ministerial meeting wants Discos to install all CAPMI meters to avert sanctions over uninstalled CAPMI meters,” NERC said in the tweet.
Last week, SweetcrudeReports reported that the National Power Council had approved the return of CAPMI.
According to a copy of a statement issued at the end of the third National Council on Power meeting, NACOP chaired by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, obtained by SweetcrudeReports, NERC was instructed to restore the scheme.
“NERC to reinstate regulations permitting willing customers to purchase meters from approved meter vendors as approved by the Distribution Companies and Nigeria Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) with a framework to reimburse such customers in cash, or energy”, the statement read.
