By Ikenna Omeje
The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has said it would roll out over 100,000 prepaid meters free to its customers beginning from the third week of November, under the Federal Government National Mass Metering Program (NMMP).
The Federal Government introduced the program as part of the effort to further bridge the country’s metering gap and also cushion the effect of the Service Reflective Tariff on electricity consumers in Nigeria.
The Chief Operating Officer of the Company, John Ayodele in a statement, said, “In line with this program, IBEDC is committed to driving the rollout through a series of metering registration and distribution points across different locations within its franchise. This metering initiative is designed to ensure a seamless metering process that allows customers to register and be metered quickly after following the due process.”
Ayodele said for the first phase of the program, which will run till the end of December 2020, IBEDC is rolling out the meters to those who are duly registered, had passed the technical evaluation and paid under the Meter Asset Provider Scheme(MAP).
According to him, the primary objectives of the National Mass Metering Program amongst other things are to increase the metering rate in Nigeria, curb losses and increase financial flows to the industry at large.
He further said: ‘’Part of the objectives also includes the elimination of estimated billing, improving network monitoring capability and strengthening the local content in meter manufacturing in Nigeria.
“The National Mass Metering Program (NMMP) is expected to roll out six million meters over the next 18 to 36 months across Nigeria.”
