NERC to harmonise power metering schemes

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has begun the review process of the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) Regulation 2018 in a move to harmonise it with the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).

While the MAP regulation was launched in November 2018, the meters were not rolled out by the 11 Distribution Companies (DisCos) until May 2019. In spite of consumers paying to get the meters, Nigeria still has over five million metering gap.

The concerns

of lack of meters by power consumers amidst reported rise in estimated billing and tariff hike prompted the federal government to roll out the free NMMP starting October 2020 with a one million metering target by December, which was not attained.

But in a NERC consultation paper seen yesterday, the Commission said stakeholders should send in their opinions to be captured in the review in 21 days starting February 24.

The document signed by the NERC Chairman, Sanusi Garba, said the review will close the gap between MAP and NMMP while considering the highs and lows of each option.

It also said MAP will be preserved as 611,231 meters have been installed under the paid scheme as of January 2021.

Key aims of the review are “to allow the implementation of both the NMMP and MAP metering frameworks to run concurrently.

“To continue with the current MAP framework with meters procured under the NMMP supplied only through MAPs by being off-takers from the local manufacturers/ assemblers,” it stated.