Ezechi welcomed NERC’s recent directive mandating DisCos to replace obsolete meters at no cost to consumers, emphasizing the need for accurate metering and transparent billing practices.
Abuja, Nigeria – The House of Representatives has initiated an investigation into electricity distribution companies (DisCos) over their failure to replace outdated meters and improve critical infrastructure.
The probe, announced on Wednesday, also seeks to address the controversial practice of relying on consumer contributions for maintenance and equipment replacement.
The House directed its Committee on Power to lead the inquiry and urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to enforce its directive mandating DisCos to replace obsolete meters at no cost to consumers within a stipulated timeframe.
Lawmakers also called on the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, to prioritize funding and provide incentives for upgrading infrastructure, such as transformers, to alleviate load-shedding and enhance electricity service delivery across the country.
Persistent Metering Crisis
The investigation follows a motion of urgent national importance raised by Representative Nnamdi Ezechi, who highlighted the long-standing challenges in Nigeria’s electricity distribution sector. He expressed concerns over the decommissioning of over one million meters, a situation exacerbating poor service delivery and leaving consumers at a disadvantage.
Ezechi lamented that many Nigerians who applied for meter replacements months ago are yet to receive upgrades. He noted that consumers are often left with two costly options: paying over N200,000 for new meters or incurring up to N500,000 in charges for temporary direct connections.
Burden on Consumers
The lawmaker criticized the ongoing practice of shifting the responsibility for maintaining electricity infrastructure onto consumers. He stated that communities are frequently required to fund repairs and replacements for equipment such as transformers, which should be the responsibility of DisCos. Ezechi added that many newly installed transformers are procured through community contributions rather than company investments.
He also called attention to the overall inefficiency of the privatized electricity sector, arguing that monopolies within the industry have failed to deliver affordable and reliable power to Nigerians. The lack of investment in upgrading outdated infrastructure continues to hinder load management and service delivery, he said.
Calls for Accountability
Ezechi welcomed NERC’s recent directive mandating DisCos to replace obsolete meters at no cost to consumers, emphasizing the need for accurate metering and transparent billing practices.
Adopting the motion, the House resolved to ensure that electricity distribution companies establish accessible and transparent systems for meter upgrades and replacements to safeguard consumers from exploitation.
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