Electricity: Good News As President Muhammadu Buhari Ends Estimated Billing, Directs Nationwide Mass Metering

President Muhammadu Buhari has ended the estimated billing sent over by electricity companies to consumers across the country.

The Nigerian leader who directed a nationwide mass metering which signalled an end to estimated billing, also approved a one-year waiver of Import Levy on electricity meters so Nigerians who do not have meters can be supplied as early as possible at reasonable cost.

A statement shared on the official handle of the Nigerian Presidency read;

”The Federal Government is working to ensure that DisCos commit to increasing the number of hours of electricity supply per day, and quality of service. A mass metering program is underway, and President @MBuhari remains committed to the protection of poor & vulnerable Nigerians.

President @MBuhari has approved a one-year waiver of Import Levy on electricity meters, so that Nigerians who do not have meters can be supplied as early as possible at reasonable cost.

President @MBuhari ends estimated Billing; directs nationwide mass metering.”

However, the Federal Government has disclosed that poor and vulnerable Nigerians will not be experiencing any electricity tariff increase as rumours had it.

NERC Chairman, James Momoh in a statement released on Wednesday August 26 after President Buhari approved the implementation of the proposed cost-reflective energy tariff for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) said the new tariff regime will exempt vulnerable customers consuming 50KW or less.

He added that customers on estimated billing will not also be affected as the president has ordered mass metering of consumers across the country.

The Statement Read;

“NERC wishes to clarify that tariff reviews going forward will only follow service-based principles. Under these service-based principles DisCos will only be able to review tariff rates for customers when they consult with customers, commit to increasing the number of hours of supply per day and quality of service.

“In all cases poor and vulnerable Nigerians will not experience any increase. In line with these expectations, DisCos are directed to engage with their customers on a Service Based Tariff structure. Under the Service Based Tariff Structure, DisCos can only review tariffs for customers under the following conditions.

“Customers are consulted and communicated a guaranteed level of electricity service by the DISCOs based on hours of supply; customers are metered; no estimated billing through the strict enforcement of the capping regulation.

“This means that unmetered customers will not experience any cost increase beyond what is chargeable to metered customers in the same area. Even under the above conditions, there will be no change in tariff for the most vulnerable as tariffs for those consuming 50KW or less remain frozen.

“Customers receiving less than 12 hours of supply will also not experience any change in tariffs. In addition, the President has directed that there should be a nationwide mass-metering program in an effort by the Federal Government to put a stop to estimated and arbitrary billing for electricity.”