The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has ordered Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) and Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDP) to immediately halt their replacement of Unistar prepaid meters.
The FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Tunji Bello, also warned electric distribution companies (DISCOs) to carry energy consumers along before classifying them into bands and also adhere strictly to industry regulations on billing unmetered consumers.
Tunji Bello, gave the order at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the FCCPC headquarters in Abuja, attended by representatives from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), various electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) and Unistar Hitech Systems Limited to address pressing metering issues impacting Nigerian consumers.
Bello decried issues facing electricity consumers, from billing inaccuracies to inadequate customer care.
He noted that “systemic inefficiencies and a culture of impunity among some service providers have intensified these issues, leading to the routine exploitation of consumers”.
The FCCPC boss expressed concern over practices that require consumers to pay upfront for meters without reimbursement, a direct violation of the NERC Meter Asset Provider and National Mass Metering Regulations 2021.
He also noted that DisCos frequently place consumers with faulty meters on estimated billing, which is prohibited under NERC’s regulations.
Mr. Bello cited an example of a complaint received by FCCPC from an Ikeja Electric customer, who had expressed frustration at being asked to replace a functioning meter at a significant personal cost.
To prevent potential exploitation, “FCCPC directed that all meter replacement processes be conducted transparently, with costs borne by the DisCos and not passed on to consumers“.
Mr. Bello stressed that “FCCPC will enforce strict compliance with these regulatory requirements to protect consumers from arbitrary charges and estimated billing”.
He reaffirmed FCCPC’s dedication to enforcing all relevant consumer protection laws within the electricity industry to uphold consumer rights and promote fair market practices.
A statement on FCCPC’s X handle added, “The FCCPC’s directive to discontinue the replacement process stems from the DisCos’ non-compliance with NERC’s “Order on Structured Replacement of Faulty and Obsolete End-user Customer Meters in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.” Both NERC and NEMSA endorsed the FCCPC’s stance on the issue.
“The NERC’s Order mandates that DisCos must prioritize metering for unmetered customers under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) and follow strict guidelines for replacing faulty or obsolete meters.
“These guidelines require DisCos to inspect faulty meters and provide detailed information in the replacement notice, including the inspection date, the inspecting officer’s credentials, the identified fault, and the scheduled replacement date.
“Furthermore, DisCos are prohibited from placing customers on estimated billing due to delays in meter replacement, as new meters must be installed immediately upon removing any faulty or obsolete unit.”