By Ikenna Omeje

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has commenced mass meter roll-out to its customers, in accordance with the National Mass Metering Programme  (NMMP), an initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria designed to ensure speedy deployment of meters to electricity customers, as a conscious way of closing the identified metering gap in the sector, 

The Head, Corporate Communications, EEDC,  Emeka Ezeh, who disclosed this in Enugu over the weekend, assured that the meters will get to the customers free, as they will not be required to make any upfront payment to be metered.

“The mass metering programme comes at no cost to our customers, and we kicked off last week Thursday, using select feeders under our Ogui and Abakpa Districts as a pilot.

“Already, the pre-installation survey has begun at these pilot locations, and meters are being installed simultaneously.

“Customers are requested to cooperate with EEDC as the modalities for deployment will be according to feeders and distribution substations. Information on this will be made available to customers as the exercise progresses,” he said.

 Ezeh advised customers against falling victim to some elements that might want to extort them of their hard-earned money in the process, assuring them that the meter is free and that with time it will get to everyone.

It is expected that by the end of 2021, a substantial number of electricity customers within the EEDC network would have been metered.

“The NMMP programme will go a long way in reducing the high ATC&C losses, enhance EEDC’s revenue, eliminate issues bothering on estimated billing and also enable customers to manage their energy consumption.

“EEDC reaffirms its commitment to metering its customers and ensuring that the NMMP which will help close the metering gap and gradually put an end to issues around estimated billing succeeds,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has distributed the sum of N14.35 billion to the 11 DisCos in the country,  for procurement of meters under the  NMMP.

According to  a statement on Thursday, the Federal Government said the fund distributed through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was for purchase of 263,860 meters.

The facility “is a loan that must be repaid by the DisCos on the basis of the previously agreed amortisation schedule. The repayment is to be deducted from payments made by consumers into the DisCos accounts with Deposit Money Banks (DMBs),” the statement added.