The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has announced the deregulation of meter prices under the MetER Assets Provider (MAP) scheme, giving DisCos and manufacturers free rein to dictate the cost of the items nationwide.
MAP is a scheme where consumers pay for meters on behalf of the DisCos operating in their franchise area, and the distributing firms repay for the equipment in form of electricity credit in annuity over a period of 10 years.
NERC in September 2023 increased the price for the Single-Phase Meter to N81,975.16 from N58,661.69, with that of the Three-Phase Meter taken from N109,684.36 to N143,836.10.
According to an order signed on Monday by NERC’s Chairman and Commissioner of Legal, Licensing and Compliance, Sanusi Garba and Dafe Akpeneye respectively, electricity consumers would, henceforth, purchase meters through competitive bidding.
It said: “With effect from 1 May 2024, all prices of meters under the MAP scheme shall be determined through a competitive bidding process with customers provided with a choice of authorised vendors.
“The combined effects of sections 8(1 )(c), 8(1 )(d), 16(1 )(h), 31 and 32(1 )(b) of the Regulations on the regulated pricing of meters deployed under the MAP scheme is hereby derogated.
“The cost of prices of meters deployed under the MAP scheme is HEREBY DEREGULATED to enable end use customers acquire meters from MAPs of their choice based on competitive open market prices determined from transparent bidding frameworks.
“All MAP permits holders are henceforth eligible to provide services and Transact for the provision of meters and metering services with any DisCo in the Federal Republic of Nigeria with their existing permit. The lifting of theRestriction on permitting to operate in all DisCos is subject to the mandatory requirement for MAPs to comply with the associated DisCo specific requirements/specifications.”
It however said the Commission would meanwhile manage the process of submitting price offers valid for one month (or as it may determine) for meters to engender transparency and competition based on the following bid process.
