NEMSA to test over 1000 meters for validity
The Nigerian Electricity Management Service Agency (NEMSA), at the weekend in Jos, said it will test over 1000 meters that will be sent to the Kaduna office from the management of Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED), to ensure that they meet specified standard.
This is as a result of the feud between consumers and JED some weeks ago in Jos when consumers, in their complain to NEMSA, alleged that the smart meters installed by JED were not calibrated hence resulting to over billing.
However, the management of JED responded by saying that the meters were certified by NEMSA for installation, adding that consumers are not use to paying electricity bill, hence the out cry.
The feud resulted to NEMSA placing a temporary ban on the smart meters installation, which complaints also alleged that it did not pass through routine test and have no seal of the required agency.
Consequently, against this background, the management of JED and other stakeholders which includes civil society, NEMSA, the state ministry of water resources and energy, the media, security agencies and representatives of various communities rescheduled May 3 for smart meters testing services to afford all stakeholders the opportunity to witness first hand the meter testing and re-certification exercise in Jos by NEMSA
Speaking at the event the Executive Director, Marketing and Investment of JEDC PLC, Mr Virr Jirbo, said JED smart meters is an instrument of measuring electricity consumption by customers, adding that the meters were procured because of the mandate to meter all their customers in their states of jurisdiction.
In his part, the spokesman and Head of Corporate Communications, Dr. Elijah Friday, said that it was untrue to say that the meters were not calibrated in the first place, saying that the samples that were taken to NEMSA office in Abuja were certified okey for installation, adding that consumers should cultivate the habit of energy conservation avoid paying heavy bills.
“Electricity consumers should adopt strategy of energy management so as not to spend so much on it; energy management is in the hands of consumers.
As a responsible organization we will not surcharge our as the company has nothing to hide and that is why we have gathered all the stakeholders to carry out the test for everyone to see so that our claim will be vindicated.
