The problem of the estimated electricity billing is one major issue that is causing so much discomfort to a lot of residents in the country as Nigerians have continuously wondered why they have to tolerate unjustified charges thrown to them under the guise of “estimated billing”.
Although, the electricity distribution companies, goaded by the federal government, have highlighted the need for customers to switch from the medieval metering process to use of “prepaid meters”, which allows for accountability and gives customers the right to pay based only on consumption.
However, the availability of these prepaid meters has been another challenge as millions of homes have been put on the waiting list years after the introduction.
Well, it seems succour is coming faster than expected as the federal government has informed of plans to commence free distribution of electricity meter to Nigerians from today (Friday).
This was disclosed by a source within the Presidency, who spoke to journalists on Thursday, on anonymity as he was not authorized to speak on the matter.
The scheme will be inaugurated in Kano, Kaduna, Eko and Ikeja electricity distribution companies’ franchise areas.
According to the source, this exercise is in fulfilment of the President Buhari led administration’s pledge to ensure mass metering in the country and the process put an end to the menace of estimated billing in the electricity sector.
He listed the locations to receive meters to include Bawo Road and environs in Kano metropolis (KEDCO); Governor Road/Tudun Wada in Kaduna (Kaduna Electric); Oshodi Business Unit in Ikeja (Ikeja Electric); and Yaba and Surulere (Eko Disco).
He stated further that the key stakeholders to monitor the inauguration committee for the distribution includes the Kano, Kaduna and Lagos state government representatives, the chairmen of Senate and House Committees on Power, and representatives of the organized Labour and Civil Society Organizations.
This development was later confirmed to journalists by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande.
Akande said, “Current efforts by the Federal Government on improving power supply and mass metering is in line with some of the agreements recently reached between the Federal Government and the Organized Labour”.