The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says over one million Nigerians have received prepaid meters.

Specifically, NERC disclosed that power distribution companies (DisCos) metered 1,092,399 customers under the Meter Assets Provider (MAP) scheme and the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).

The agency stated this in its reply to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by an electricity consumer group that requested data on the number of meters distributed by the DisCos under both programmes.

The All Electricity Consumers Protection Forum (AECPF) had asked NERC to provide data on the number of meters distributed so far by the DisCos under the programmes.

The letter dated June 28 and signed by Adeola Samuel-Ilori, AECPF’s national coordinator, asked the agency to provide the information within seven days of receiving the letter pursuant to Section 4 (1) (2) of the FOI Act.

According to NERC, the DisCos have metered 508,439 customers so far under the MAP scheme, flagged off on October 30, 2020, with a target of six million meters by 2023.

The regulatory agency added that 583,960 meters had been distributed under the MAP scheme, adding that 5,855 customers paid for prepaid meters but have yet to get their meters.

Mr Samuel-Ilori, while commending NERC for its response to the request, said the group surveyed customers who paid under the MAP scheme but have not got their meters.

He pointed out that the number of customers who paid but have not received the meters was higher than the figures released by NERC, adding that the group would soon send FOI requests to the DisCos to get the detailed breakdown.

“It is necessary to have this data by our group to help fulfil one of the cardinal objectives, which includes monitoring the activities of power sector stakeholders as they affect the consumers,” Mr Samuel-Ilori said.

(NAN)