Tunji Bello
FCCPC bars Ikeja, Eko DisCos from installing Unistar meters over non-compliance
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has barred Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) and Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDP) instaling Unistar prepaid meters due to their non-compliance with directives from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Im a statement on the Commission’s X page, on Tuesday, the Commission also told the electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) to engage with energy consumers before classifying them into bands and to strictly adhere to industry regulations when billing unmetered consumers.
The FCCPC’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Tunji Bello, spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the FCCPC headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting, aimed at addressing pressing metering issues affecting Nigerian consumers, was attended by representatives from NERC, the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), various DISCOs, and Unistar Hitech Systems Limited.
Bello highlighted significant challenges facing electricity consumers, including billing inaccuracies and inadequate customer care.
The FCCPC boss, who highlighted that an Ikeja Electric customer was frustrated about being asked to replace a functioning meter at a significant personal cost, directed that all meter replacement processes be conducted transparently, with costs borne by the DISCOs and not passed on to consumers.
Bello said NERC’s order mandates DISCOs to prioritize metering for unmetered customers under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) and to follow strict guidelines when replacing faulty or obsolete meters.
According to him, “The FCCPC’s directive to discontinue the replacement process stems from the DISCOs’ non-compliance with NERC’s Order on Structured Replacement of Faulty and Obsolete End-user Customer Meters in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry. Both NERC and NEMSA have endorsed the FCCPC’s stance on this issue,” the statement reads.
“Citing non-compliance with NERC’s order, FCCPC directed Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) and Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDP) to immediately halt their replacement of Unistar prepaid meters.”
He said systemic inefficiencies and a culture of impunity have led to the routine exploitation of consumers, describing as a direct violation of the NERC Meter Asset Provider and National Mass Metering Regulations 2021 practices that require consumers to pay upfront for meters without reimbursement.
Bello stressed that the FCCPC will ensure strict compliance with these regulatory requirements to protect consumers from arbitrary charges and estimated billing.
“The FCCPC is also committed to enhancing consumer education on metering and billing practices to prevent potential exploitation by service providers,” he said.
Bello recalled that the NERC guidelines require DISCOs to inspect faulty meters and provide detailed information in the replacement notice, including the inspection date, the credentials of the inspecting officer, the identified fault, and the scheduled replacement date.
“Furthermore, DISCOs are prohibited from placing customers on estimated billing due to delays in meter replacement, as new meters must be installed immediately after removing any faulty or obsolete unit,” he said.