End estimated billing now - Fashola tells DISCOs

- The minister of power, works and housing Fashola said there would an end to the issue of estimated billing of consumers by the 11 electricity Discos in Nigeria

- Fashola said the executive arm of government, had responded by taking advantage of the MAP regulations to deploy a fund of N37bn towards supplying meters through private sector

- He, however, urged the DISCOs make its own funding arrangements to contract its own meter providers to supply and install meters

The minister of power, works and housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola has urged the Power Distribution Companies to work towards ending the estimated billing system, which he said is subjective and prone to abuse.

The Nation reports that Fashola urged the electricity distribution companies to access the federal government N37 billion fund under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) to achieve an end to the estimated billing regime.

He made the call at the 28th edition of the Monthly Power Sector Operators meeting hosted by the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDCO) in Kaduna.

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According to him, “The executive arm of government, had responded by taking advantage of the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) Regulations to deploy a fund of N37bn towards supplying meters through private sector.

“Let me be clear that every DISCO is affected, and every DISCO needs to respond by providing meters quickly and seeking to end estimated billing, which is subjective, discretionary, and prone to abuse.

“I therefore urge all DISCOs who have not taken benefit of this opportunity to quickly do so, or make their own funding arrangements to contract their own meter providers to supply and install meters.

“On the legislative side of government, there is a clear intention to intervene by Legislation. The executive and legislative response show that government is committed to addressing this issue of meters.”

Fashola said, meter supply had become the big issue of the moment that consumers want the stakeholders to resolve, adding that, “as a government, we hear them loudly and clearly, and as service providers, we hope that you can hear them too.

“As power supply continues to increase in generation, transmission and distribution, the demand for meters will increase because more power supply and consumption will likely result in increased bills.

“Estimated billings in this circumstance will become a major cause of distrust and conflict between consumers and DISCOs and meters are the easiest way to build the bridge of trust,” he said.

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He also urged the operators, GENCOs, Transmission Company and DISCOs, who are the points of public interface on the need to pay more attention to service delivery, repairs, and maintenance of equipment.

Fashola said: “My focus in this meeting will not be different. We are beginning a different weather season that will see more rainfall, thunderstorms, lightening and windstorms. All of these will affect regular supply one way or another. Trees will fall and disrupt lines, poles and lines may be damaged, and service will be disrupted.

“In all these situations, we must prepare our staff to anticipate, plan, and respond. Most importantly, we must inform the public about the problems and what we are doing to restore service whenever there are disruptions.

“As a consumer myself, nothing gives me more comfort than when my service provider shares information about service disruptions. It tells me quickly that at least somebody knows that there is a problem, and gives me hope that something is being done about it,” said the Minister.“

Meanhile, Legit.ng had reported that Nigeria’s power, works and housing minister, Babatunde Fashola reassured the people of the country that they would experience steady power supply just as he explained that the federal government was making efforts in that direction.

Fashola reportedly spoke at the 25th monthly power sector meeting on Monday, March 12, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state. According to him, the power sector recovery programme put in place by the ministry and other stakeholders was beginning to yield results.

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Source: Legit.ng