The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has urged its customers in the region to apply for electricity meters through the Meter Assets Provider (MAP) Scheme to avoid estimated billings.
Mr John Ayodele, IBEDC Chief Operating Officer said this at MAP Customers’ Town Hall meeting on Tuesday in Osogbo.
Represented by Mrs Angela Olarenwaju, IBEDC Head of Corporate Communications and Strategy, Ayodele said MAP was introduced by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to put a stop to the incessant complaints over estimated billings by customers.
He said the scheme would also help to bridge the metering gap and accelerate meter roll out to enhance revenue generation.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NERC had on April 5, directed all Distribution Companies (DisCos) to commence the distribution of prepaid meters under MAP not later than May 1, 2019
Ayodele said that meter providers were drawn from indigenous private sectors and licensed by NERC to encourage development of independent and competitive meter services.
He said that the Town Hall meeting was organised to engage and educate customers on MAP, adding that the scheme was not only for the provision of meters, but also for the installation, maintenance and replacement of faulty meters.
He said that IBEDC was committed to ensuring that its 988,915 customers get metered with ease.
Ayodele said customers could get a single-phase meter for N38, 325, while a three-phase meter would cost N70, 350.
He said that meter would be installed in customer’s premises within 10 working days after confirmation of payment.
Ayodele said application for meter by customers had commenced since August 1, and appealed to its customers to go through proper channel for the purchase of their meters.
According to him, there are no hidden charges, processing or application fees.
Some customers at the meeting, however, expressed their grievances over the poor services rendered by IBEDC.
Mr Bola Amo, a customer said he had paid for a meter for more than two years without being given, noting that paying for another meter would amount to a rip-off by IBEDC.
