NERC admits billing errors despite power meters

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has admitted that in spite of having installed meters, some electricity consumers still record billing errors and safety hazards that affect human life and property.

It also set compulsory registration fees between N10,000 and N1 million to certify Meter Service providers (MSP), including installers under its guidelines which had existed since 2013.

“Despite the existence of the guidelines, faulty metering installations still persist which results in billing errors as well as safety hazards with adverse effects on human life and property.”

In a post on its website, NERC said the ‘Guidelines for the Certification of Metering Service Providers (MSP) and Related Matters,’ was developed and signed by former Chairman of NERC, Sam Amadi on July 3, 2013. The fee for Individual corporate installers ranges from 10,000 registration fee to 60,000 among three installation categories.

The MSPs pay N10,000 as application fees and are obligated to pay thus: Vendor pays N750,000, manufacturer and importer pay N1m valid for 24 months and 12 month respectively.

The approval includes a curriculum for training meter installers by the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN); all meter installers under MSP must provide evidence (certification) of training from NAPTIN or any other one approved by NERC starting August 1, 2020, the Commission noted.

“It is illegal for anyone to install meter and metering equipment in the NESI without the appropriate NERC Certificate,” it warned.