FCCPC Urges DisCos To Replace Prepaid Meters Without Charging Customers

FCCPC Urges DisCos To Replace Prepaid Meters Without Charging Customers The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has instructed electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to adopt a phased approach to replacing outdated prepaid meters, ensuring that consumers are not unfairly charged during this process.

This directive follows a wave of consumer complaints regarding costs associated with meter replacements and the billing process. FCCPC’s Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Tunji Bello, addressed the matter on Thursday at a stakeholders’ meeting on metering issues in Abuja. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had earlier mandated that DisCos replace obsolete meters. Ikeja Electric, one of the country’s main DisCos, recently announced it would cease support for Unistar prepaid meters due to technical upgrades and token identifier issues, effective November 14.

Attendees of the meeting included representatives from NERC, the Nigeria Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), and Unistar’s manufacturer. Bello emphasized the importance of protecting consumers, stating that the replacement process should be transparent, with clear communication regarding costs and procedures.

Bello highlighted systemic issues among some service providers, including billing inaccuracies and poor customer service, which negatively impact consumers. He condemned practices like billing on faulty meters and charging upfront for meter replacements without refunds, noting that these actions violate the NERC Meter Asset Provider and National Mass Metering Regulations of 2021.

Bello cautioned DisCos that any future regulatory breaches would be met with immediate action, emphasizing that power shortages do not justify consumer exploitation. NERC’s head of consumer engagement, Zubair Babatunde, and NEMSA’s assistant manager, Okeme Obiabo, echoed the need for proper procedures, assuring consumers they will