Power users under the aegis of National Electricity Consumers Advocacy Network (NECAN) are ready to pay new meter charges because the introduction of meters would reduce the need for bribery of officials of electricity distribution firms. It is, however, unclear the number of users they represent and speak for, seeing that very many users are still oblivious of the new system.
This is following the National Electricity Regulatory Commission’s declaration that power distribution companies no longer have the sole responsibility of providing meters to electricity consumers anymore and the introduction of the 2018 Meter Asset Provider Regulations (MAPR), which brought another class of operators in the power sector called Meter Asset Providers.
The MAPR was introduced to eliminate the corruption that comes with the existing system of determining power consumption tariffs.
According to NECAN, it is better to pay the fee and get meters than to continue paying a tariff that is meant to provide free meters but has failed to do so.
It is important to note that while NECAN is supposed to speak for the generality of power consumers, it reached its conclusion only after deliberations with consumer groups which are not generally inclusive and do little or nothing to educate the generality of consumers on the development.
Understanding the Meter Asset Provider Regulations
Speaking on the importance of the MAPR, the Chairman, NECAN, Tomi Akingbogun, said,
“Under the 2018 MAPR, power users will have to pay meter service charge that is separate from the energy bill.
“Hence, the customer will be paying for the meters and removing the responsibility of meter provision from the power distributors. Consumers are happy with the regulation because in the first place, the free meters are not available and the Discos are giving customers estimated bills that are far higher than what they would have paid if they had meters.
“Some customers even pay bribes in order to access meters. This is because it is better to have a meter than to pay for power when you have it and when you don’t have it through estimated billing.”
From the first paragraph in his quoted statement, it is clear that the amount that consumers would be required to pay now will be higher than the previous charges as they would now be paying for two separate charges: meter service charge and energy bill. And there is no sensitization to this effect, yet.
It is also important to note that the new meter will reduce the spate of corruption in the system and would quell the victimization that consumers have complained about in the past as they will now have control over their own electricity supply.
NECAN’s claim and what they fail to consider
The claim by NECAN that consumers are ready and willing to pay the extra meter charges comes with the fact that most of the consumers referred to are yet to be sensitized about the new regulations and the importance. Also, many are yet to even realize that they would be paying more soon and the realization, as in the past, would come upon them suddenly and result in doubts and suspicion.
To this effect, it is expected that NECAN and NERC commence sensitization on the modalities of the new regulations in order to avail power consumers with the information necessary to their participation in the procurement of power in the country.
