Nigeria’s Federal Government has instructed electricity distribution companies to replace any meter phased out due to an upgrade, in a move aimed at ensuring consumers’ metering needs are not disrupted.
The directive was issued through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, which stated that although there is no official order to phase out Unistar meters, they will eventually need to be replaced due to technological upgrades.
Unistar meters will soon become obsolete due to the Token Identifier Rollover, and users will no longer be able to purchase electricity. This means that even though some electricity distribution companies, or Discos, have told customers to get new meters by November 14, they are following operational guidelines rather than a specific directive from the commission.
According to Musiliu Oseni, Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, “There is no official directive yet on phasing out Unistar meters. However, if they are not upgradable, the Discos can decide to phase them out, but they must replace them.”
Oseni emphasized that replacing meters is the responsibility of the Discos, who must ensure that no customer is placed on estimated billing or denied access to electricity during the phase-out process. He also stated that if customers are asked to purchase new meters under the Meter Asset Provider framework, the Discos must provide a clear refund mechanism.
The move to phase out Unistar meters has drawn criticism from the All Electricity Consumer Protection Forum, which has urged Ikeja Electric and Eko Electricity Distribution Company to suspend the decommissioning of electricity meters until formal regulatory approval is given by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
In a letter, the forum’s National Coordinator, Adeola Samuel-Ilori, expressed disappointment over the plan to phase out meters without a replacement plan, highlighting concerns about the potential disruption to consumers’ access to electricity.
As Nigeria struggles to close its seven million metering gap, the need for a smooth transition to new meters is crucial to ensuring that consumers’ access to electricity is not disrupted. The move to phase out Unistar meters highlights the importance of upgrading Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure to meet the needs of its growing population.
