The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has announced further restrictions on the importation of meters. Distribution Companies (DISCOS) must buy from local manufacturers.
The NERC has imposed restrictions on certification of meter importers due to complaints by local manufacturers that DISCOS prefer to import the meters they use.
In view of this, the NERC Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi, told newsmen in Abuja yesterday that only the types of metres that cannot be sourced locally can be imported.
“We demanded that every such importer must produce proof that the distribution company that gives its supply order cannot source such number of meters from local manufacturers,” Amadi said.
Many importers of meters, especially Chinese firms, have therefore applied to NERC to lift the strict condition for the grant of approval to import meters, and give them interim licenses for six months after which they will establish meter manufacturing plants in Nigeria.
The Commission has also set a cap on what DISCOS can charge on unmetered customers. However, it a temporary ban of four months.
“All estimates being imposed by DISCOS within the moratorium period shall be strict based on the Commission Billing Estimation Methodology. As soon as the capping regulation commences, the extant regulation on estimation methodology will be vacated,” he noted.
The NERC boss urged customers to stop stealing power infrastructure, describing it as sabotage. “It is in the interest of consumers to report their neighbour who engage in such criminal activities to the distribution companies and the security forces.
“By protecting electrical installations, we reduce the cost of electricity generation, transmission and distribution. And we benefit in terms of improved power supply and lower tariff. As NERC decide to push the distribution companies to high levels of efficiency and customer accountability, it has authorised distribution companies to take the severest actions possible to prevent, detect and prosecute customers who by-pass or clone meters, tamper with electrical installation or in any way defraud them of approved revenue.
“We call on the police authorities to step up prevention and prosecution of criminal activities in the electricity market.
“Just this week, we received petition from some local meter manufacturers alleging that some distribution companies have violated the local content obligation by installing imported meters when there are locally manufactured meters. We have started investigation of the allegation.
“Distribution companies should note that the Commission would mete out severe sanctions to any operator who violates the regulations on metering and local content,” Amadi said.
The post NERC Places Further Restrictions On Importation Of Electricity Meters appeared first on Naijabams.
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