IBEDC To Begin Distribution Of 100,000 Free Meters Next Week

The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc said on Wednesday that it would commence the rollout of free meters to customers under the Federal Government’s National Mass Metering Programme in a bid to bridge the nation’s metering gap.

The scheme, which is expected to kick off by the third week of November, IBEDC said, would help to 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 made available to journalists in Ibadan, said the company would roll out through a series of metering registration and distribution points across different locations within its franchise area.

The statement indicated that the metering initiative was aimed at ensuring a seamless metering process that allows customers to register and be metered quickly after following due process.

It read that in the first phase of the programme, running till the end of December, more than 100, 000 prepaid meters would be rolled out to customers who are duly registered, passed the technical evaluation and paid under the Meter Asset Provider Scheme.

It stated that the primary objectives of the National Mass Metering Program are to increase the metering rate in Nigeria, curb losses and increase financial flows to the industry at large.

The statement read in parts,

‘’ 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 is expected to roll out six million meters over the next 18 to 36 months across Nigeria.