Amid orders from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to halt any replacement efforts, Eko and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) have addressed concerns over the planned phase-out of Unistar meters.
Recall that the FCCPC instructed the DisCos to postpone meter replacements to avoid any possible interruptions and higher expenses for consumers who are already struggling financially.
Since Unistar meters are incompatible with the new STS 2.0 metering system, the DisCos had warned that they would be phased out today, November 14 and encouraged users to apply for replacement meters.
However, the federal government ordered the Ikeja Electricity and Eko Electricity discos to immediately stop replacing Unistar-prepared meters that were scheduled to start today, claiming non-compliance with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC) directive.
The FCCPC recently announced that its directive was still in effect and that the two DisCos would face harsh repercussions if they attempted to violate it.
Addressing this, Babatunde Lasaki, EKEDC’s general manager of corporate communications, told The Guardian that DisCo was complying with the regulator to maintain the status quo for now.
Lasaki responded to the FCCPC’s statement about disobeying the instruction by arguing that since NERC is their regulator, its rules and regulations govern their operations and actions.
Also speaking, Kingsley Okotie, Ikeja Electric’s general manager of corporate communications, told The Guardian that the company also adheres to the regulator’s position on the phase-out.
TimesNow.com.ng earlier reported that Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) in Nigeria again raised prices for various types of prepaid electricity meters from approximately N117,000 to as high as N149,800, depending on the distribution company and meter supplier.
The latest price revision was the second increase in less than four months.
In various messages sent to customers, DisCos said the new prices took effect on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
Proofreading by James, Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at TimesNow.com.ng.
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
