FG takes loan to purchase prepaid metres for Nigerians.

The Federal Government has said it is committed to eradicating estimated billing by securing a N37 billion funding to provide meters through the new

regulation, Meter Assets Providers (MAP).

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who disclosed this yesterday at the 28th Power Sector Meeting hosted by the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDCO) in Kaduna, asked the Distribution Companies (DisCos) to strive to end estimated billing by metering its customers.

Fashola said, “Every DisCo needs to respond by providing meters quickly and seeking to end estimated billing, which is subjective, discretionary, and prone to abuse.”

According to him, “The Executive arm of Government, had responded by taking advantage of the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) regulation to deploy a fund of N37 billion towards supplying meters through private sector. I want to urge all DisCos who have not taken benefit of this opportunity to quickly do so, or make their own funding arrangements to contract their own meter providers to supply and install meters.”

The minister said as electricity supply improved, estimated billing on customers would become a major cause of distrust and conflict between consumers and DisCos, and that, “Meters are the easiest way to build the bridge of trust.”

Recall that the minister, the DisCos and other stakeholders were at the National Assembly last week on a public hearing about a bill to amend the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA) 2005 to criminalise estimated billing as initiated by House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila.

The executive and legislative responses, he said, show that government was committed to addressing the issue of meters.

The Minister earlier inaugurated three power substations with 60MVA transformer including Zaria, Kakuri and Mando substations.

He said the upgraded sub-stations would improve service of Kaduna DisCo to customers in places like Kaduna Township, Rigasa, Kakuri, Rigachukwu, Chikun, Sabon Tasha, among other communities.

DailyT.