The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has confirmed that a total of 30 companies has now been licenced to participate in procurement of prepaid meters in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
NERC has prior to now granted licences to 22 firms,but with additional eight companies obtaining licences ,as it confirmed in a statement issued on Thursday,the total number of companies to participate in procurement and bid process with electricity distribution companies of their choice of prepaid meters now stands at 30 firms.
According to the statement issued by Vivian Mbonu,who heads it’s media unit ,NERC said successful bidder from procurement process shall obtain Meter Asset Provider Permit from the Commission after entering into Metering Service Agreement with electricity distribution companies.
The statement said,services to be provided by Meter Asset Providers may among others include financing, procurement, installation, repair and replacement of electricity meters according to the MAP Regulations 2018.
The eight newly approved companies with access to the ‘No Objection’ form, which gurantees access to work with DISCOs for the procurement and installation of the Meter include : –
Carlin Concept International Nigeria Limited;
Onenation Energy Platform Nigeria Limited;
Armese Consulting Limited;
CWG Plc; Damtaq Limited;
Powerup Projects International Limited;
Esinos Resources International Limited;
Techadvance Limited.
NERC adds further that intending investors have opportunities to apply for the Commission’s ‘No Objection’ to participate in meter procurement process as it is a continuous exercise.
Industry watchers have expressed deeper worry of inability to meter electricity consumers,with NERC confirming that only 3.36 million consumers out of 8 million billed consumers have meters.
Estimated billing system has also robbed off on power consumers with huge number of them complaining of compromise and exploitation by some distribution companies.
Some analysts ,however , express optimism that the third Meter Access Providers could close the metering option in the country,and provide enough liquidity balance for the power sector privatisation.
