Teddy Oscar, Abuja
Metering gap within the nation’s power sector could soon be a thing of the past, if plans to unveil 480,000 in a five-year metering rollout by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (Abuja Disco) is anything to go by.
This was disclosed on Wednesday by Neil Croucher, chief executive officer/MD, Abuja Disco, during a monthly CEO’s meeting with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in Abuja.
Speaking at a briefing with energy correspondents, Croucher disclosed that the target intends to cover a monthly rollout of 8,000 meters.
“Yes, our intention on meter rollout is about 8,000 meters a month, which is about 96,000 meters in a year. Again, following today’s discussion, and in about four to five months that we’ve been here, we’ve recognised that metering is an absolute key area.
“We would be looking at ways that we could increase the rollout and as rapidly as possible. There would be logistics and challenges, of course; but we have to manage the project. We have to make sure that those meters are rolled out on a solid platform,” Croucher said.
He added that the 8,000 monthly target could be increased, if it would be possible to do so within the five-year period.
Croucher also observed that discos have not been accessible to customers.
To this end, he said that Abuja Disco intends to create an effective customer care centre that would capture every customer they have made contact with.
“So, we want to make it easier for customers to get in touch with us, tell us their concerns, and in our case, we want to establish a single call centre that would be able to serve the purposes,” he added.
Also, speaking at the briefing, Dr. Sam Amadi, NERC chairman, warned that the regime of reckless estimation in billing must stop.
He noted that both Abuja and Eko Discos have indicated interest in continuing with the Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) earlier introduced by NERC to ensure seamless provision of meters for customers, who can buy their meters and recoup their money through electricity supplied.
Amadi disclosed that among the issues discussed at the meeting were ways of improving gas supply to power plants, adequate metering plans and reduction of electricity losses.
“The interim rule will come into force soon,” he added.
