•FCCPC blocks Unistar replacement by Ikeja, Eko DisCos
By Chinelo Obogo
Electricity consumers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have kicked against the planned hike prepaid meter price hike as announced by Distribution Companies (DisCos), expected to take effect from November 5.
According to the DisCos, the cost of a single-phase meter will be N149, 800 from N117, 000, while the three-phase meter will now cost N236, 500 from N206,345, though the prices would vary from DisCo to DisCo. Under the new price regime, customers under the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) will pay between N123, 130.53 and N147, 812.5 for single-phase meters, and N206,345.65 to N236,500 for three-phase meters. Ibadan Disco customers would pay between N130, 998 and N142, 548 for a single-phase meter and N226, 556.25 to N232, 008 for a three-phase-meter.
Kano Electricity Distribution customers will pay between N127,9 25 and N129,999 for a single-phase meter, and N223,793 to N235,425 for a three-phase meter, while Kaduna Disco sells between N131, 150 and N142, 548.94 for single-phase meters and N220, 375 to N232, 008.04 for three-phase meters.
Lamenting over the price increase, an Abuja resident, Mrs. Alice Ogar, said, “The cost of everything keeps going up every day. It took me time to put this money together and I don’t know how to raise the additional amount to make it up.” Another Abuja resident, Mr. Edem Okon said that in October, his neighbour bought a three-phase meter for N206, 345.65 but that when he decided to buy, the price had risen to about N236, 500. “The price increase at this time was not necessary as a lot of people are going through hardship. Nothing is cheap and this is affecting everyone,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Tuesday urged electric the DisCos to adhere strictly to industry regulations on billing unmetered consumers.
The call was made by FCCPC’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Tunji Bello, at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the FCCPC headquarters in Abuja which was attended by representatives from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) and various DisCos.
Citing noncompliance with NERC’s order, FCCPC directed Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) and Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDP) to immediately halt their replacement of Unistar prepaid meters.
During the meeting, Mr. Bello highlighted significant issues facing electricity consumers, from billing inaccuracies to inadequate customer care. Mr. Bello noted that systemic inefficiencies and a culture of impunity among some service providers have intensified these issues, leading to the routine exploitation of consumers. He expressed concern over practices that require consumers to pay upfront for meters without reimbursement, a direct violation of the NERC Meter Asset Provider and National Mass Metering Regulations 2021. He also noted that DisCos frequently place consumers with faulty meters on estimated billing, which is prohibited under NERC’s regulations. To prevent potential exploitation, FCCPC directed that all meter replacement processes be conducted transparently, with costs borne by the DisCos and not passed on to consumers.