Federal Government To Distribute One Million Smart Meters

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The Federal Government had said it will soon commence the distribution of one million smart meters to consumers across the country.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Dr Godknows Boladei Igali, made this known at a forum to proffer solutions to effective billing System in Lagos.

Dr Godknows said at the forum that the Federal Government was also seeking other ways at reducing technical and commercial losses in a view to satisfy the electricity needs of its people and boosting power supply.

Prior to this, the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, had said that the private sector owners of the electricity distribution companies inherited a lot of customers who had no meters.

This was in response to the complaints of power consumers across the country.

Prof. Chinedu said, “The private sector inherited a customer base in which 50 per cent do not have meters. Nigeria has the highest per capital electricity theft in the world.

“That is why we are now doing smart meters and we are moving to a place where the meters will be mounted on poles, because something has got to be done fast.

“As a result of the burden on the DISCOs due to meter issues, the President has provided funding to give over one million meters to Nigerians to reduce the gap and then allow the DISCOs ensure that all customers are given meters.”

On when Nigerians would start getting the meters, Nebo said, “The fact is that the funding has been approved by Mr. President and the funds would be released very soon.

“These meters are being procured and I do think that in the next couple of months, you will begin to see them because the mechanism still needs to be developed on how they would be shared to the Distribution Companies.

“They (DISCOs) will distribute and install these meters and these are all being worked out. Some people may not be happy to give you meters, but we think we should continue to insist that every consumer must be given a meter because the only way to stop estimated billing is to provide these meters.”