NERC repeals estimated billing method, orders metering of electricity consumers
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Tuesday said it had repealed the estimated billing methodology regulation, effective February 20th, 2020.
This is even as it directed the Distribution Companies (DisCos) to ensure that all customers on tariff class A1 in their franchise areas were properly identified and metered by April 30.
Following the repeal, the estimated billing methods will cease to be used as the basis for computing the fees of unmetered electricity consumers in NESI.
NERC in an order signed by its Chairman, James Momoh, and Commissioner, Legal, Licensing and Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye, obtained from its website on Tuesday, explained that the repeal became necessary in a bid to ensure that there is parity in how unmetered R2 and C1 electricity consumers are billed, in comparison to how their metered counterparts in NESI are billed. Which is believed would make all customers happy and satisfied.
According to the regulatory body, all other customers on higher tariff classes must be metered by DisCos not later than April 30. Customers will not be liable to pay any estimated bill issued if the DisCos failed to supply meters.
NERC said it had placed limits on estimated bills that could be issued by electricity distribution companies to unmetered customers.
“The customer shall remain connected to supply without further payment to the DisCos until a meter is installed on the premises under the framework work of MAP Regulations.
“Or any other financing arrangement approved by the commission.
“Energy consumed for the purpose of estimated billing is capped during the transitional period till the customers are metered.
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“However, the actual amount payable shall vary in the event of any approved tariff reviews affecting their customer class,” it stated.
NERC directed further that, “based on the above, the estimated billing methodology is hereby repealed and shall cease to have effect as a basis for computing the consumption of unmetered customers in NESI.”
The commission said, “DisCos shall ensure that all customers on tariff class A1 in their franchise areas are properly identified and metered by April 30.
“All unmetered RS and C1 customers shall not be invoiced for the consumption of energy beyond the cap stipulated in schedule 1 of this order.
“All R1 customers, who by definition consume not more than 50 kilowatt-hour (kWhr) of energy per month, shall continue to be billed at N4 kWh and a maximum of N200 per month unless otherwise amended by an order of the commission,” it said.
The order instructed further that the energy cap prescribed by the commission shall only apply to R2 and C1 customers, adding that all other customers on higher tariff classes must be metered by DisCos no later than April 30.
It stated that if the DisCos failed to comply affected customers would no longer liable to pay any estimated bill issues by Discos.
“Any customer on such higher tariff classes not metered beyond April 30 shall remain connected to supply without further payment to the DisCos until a meter is installed on the premises under the framework of Meter Asset Provider (MAP) regulations or any other financing arrangement approved by the commission,” it stated.
