By Ikenna Omeje
Ikeje Electric has expressed readiness to meter 400,000 customers in the next two years, as part of commitment to achieve the mandate of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to bridge the metering gap and reduce the incidence of estimated bills.
This was disclosed in a release by the Head of Corporate Communications, Ikeja Electric, Felix Ofulue on Monday 22 June.
He said that the company has metered over one hundred and twenty thousand households between 2018 and June 2020, in its effort to realize its objective of metering all its customers in the shortest possible time.
“The company plans to meter another 400,000 customers over the next two years. Apart from eradicating estimated billing, Ikeja Electric’s metering program has also provided jobs, directly and indirectly, for thousands of Lagosians and Nigerians in general, particularly during the lockdown” the release quoted Ofulue as saying.
According to him, the metering of its customers under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme is ongoing, despite logistical challenges emanating from the Covid-19 pandemic. The company has also metered Maximum Demand (MD) customers in the network and conducts periodic recertification of the meters in line with Regulatory procedures.
“In addition to consumer metering, Ikeja Electric has also metered all the 33kv/11kv feeders from the injection stations ensuring energy accountability across its delivery points. In addition, the local distribution transformers have also been metered up to 100% while the metering of newly installed transformers after completion of the project is ongoing” he explained.
Ofulue urged customers who are yet to apply for meters, to take advantage of the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme and apply through the IE portal (map.ikejaelectric.com) using their Ikeja Electric’s account number on the bill to log into the portal and update their KYC (Know Your Customer) details.
He noted that Ikeja Electric has set up a debt resolution panel in the Six Business Units to address complaints on outstanding bills and other related issues to ensure reconciliation while customers are processing the application for meter.
With regards to payment for meters, Mr Felix Ofulue stressed that “customers must always pay into the designated bank account provided by the MAP and they must always include their Application Reference Number (ARN) when making these payments”.
In the same vein, he also explained that with the upward review of meter prices by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the new price for Single Phase Meter is now (N48, 263.37) Forty Eight Thousand, Two Hundred and Sixty Three Naira and Thirty Seven Kobo while Three Phase Meter is now (N89, 069.33) Eighty Nine Thousand, Sixty Nine Naira and Thirty Three Kobo. All prices are inclusive of VAT and became effective from June 1, 2020.
He, however, informed customers who have paid before June 1, 2020 under the MAP scheme, but yet to be metered to forward their payment evidence stating Account Name, Application Reference Number (ARN) and IE Account Number to [email protected] for prompt confirmation.
Ofulue advised customers not to pay or give money to either Ikeja Electric staff or MAP for meter and installation. Rather, they should send an email to [email protected] or all Ikeja Electric customer care lines.
