By Etuka Sunday
•Insist on 45 days for meter installations
Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday disagreed with the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) for the modalities used in the implementation of Credited Advance Payment Metering Implementation (CAPMI) Scheme.
Speaking in a presentation at the Public Consultation on Electricity Metering organized by NERC, the Executive Director, Regulatory and Stakeholders’ Affairs, AEDC, Engr. Abimbola Odubiyi who represented the Managing Director of the Company said that the 45 days specification for the installation of meters under CAPMI was being delayed by the installers and not the company, but NERC insisted that the 45 days must be strictly adhere to, for the benefit of the customers.
NERC argued that the 45 days of meter installation under the CAPMI Scheme was one of the benefits a customer was supposed to enjoy therefore could not be compromised.
Meanwhile, AEDC said it has a total of 737, 535 customers out of which 404, 990 was so far metered and a total of 332, 545 are awaiting metering.
He said a total of 12, 628 customers who paid for meters under CAPMI had so far been metered, including over 600, 000 customers who claimed they paid for meters before the introduction of CAPMI.
According to him, the CAPMI scheme has brought a lot of relief to the customers who are willing and eager to be metered, therefore assured of the company’s commitment to refunding customers who paid for meters under the scheme with 12.5% interest rate.
He disclosed the company’s readiness to commence mass metering rollout from next year with 8,000 meters per month.
Recall, the Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) was introduced January 1, 2011 as a solution to crazy electricity estimated billing and enhance revenue collection.
Under the scheme, willing customers are allowed to advance funds for the purchase and installation of meters.
The advance payments, according to NERC are subsequently refunded through a rebate on fixed charge element of their electricity bills.
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