There
seems to be light at the end of the tunnel as far as getting a prepaid
electricity meter is concerned as the Minster of Power, Works and
Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola says supply to consumers will improve
following the approval of a new regulations for meter asset providers.
seems to be light at the end of the tunnel as far as getting a prepaid
electricity meter is concerned as the Minster of Power, Works and
Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola says supply to consumers will improve
following the approval of a new regulations for meter asset providers.
Fashola said this on Sundy at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja.
He
also said the challenge of meter supply was one of the problems among
other issues that the Federal Government was resolving under the Power
Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP).
also said the challenge of meter supply was one of the problems among
other issues that the Federal Government was resolving under the Power
Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP).
“For
meters specifically, it will get better, which is one of the problems
we intend to solve under the Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP).
meters specifically, it will get better, which is one of the problems
we intend to solve under the Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP).
“Every
problem that afflicts the industry that we have seen is in that PSRP,
so that PSRP is like the first aid kit to solving, it is like the do it
all box, if new problems comes we will throw it inside.
problem that afflicts the industry that we have seen is in that PSRP,
so that PSRP is like the first aid kit to solving, it is like the do it
all box, if new problems comes we will throw it inside.
“So
specifically about meters, you would have heard that on Monday at our
meeting in Uyo, the regulator presented the regulations that allows new
meter asset providers to now be licensed.
specifically about meters, you would have heard that on Monday at our
meeting in Uyo, the regulator presented the regulations that allows new
meter asset providers to now be licensed.
“What
that means is that you can be a meter assets provider if you meet the
conditions. What that means is that you are bringing money to help meter
customers in a DISCO.
that means is that you can be a meter assets provider if you meet the
conditions. What that means is that you are bringing money to help meter
customers in a DISCO.
“What
it means is that you are relieving the financial pressure from the
DISCO, so the DISCO can face their core business which is to distribute
energy.
it means is that you are relieving the financial pressure from the
DISCO, so the DISCO can face their core business which is to distribute
energy.
“Meters don’t distribute energy, meters measure energy that is been distributed.
“The core business of the DISCO is to distribute energy, they need meters.
“But
we want them to invest their own money in transformers, in circuit
breakers, in re-conducting their lines which is really the heart of
their business, so it will get better.”
we want them to invest their own money in transformers, in circuit
breakers, in re-conducting their lines which is really the heart of
their business, so it will get better.”
He
said the mandate on metering of electricity consumers was a contractual
obligation that happened before the emergence of the current
administration.
said the mandate on metering of electricity consumers was a contractual
obligation that happened before the emergence of the current
administration.
“I
think that first, you need to focus on the fact that this is a change
of the old order in the sense that, it is now privately driven and it is
now four years plus.
think that first, you need to focus on the fact that this is a change
of the old order in the sense that, it is now privately driven and it is
now four years plus.
“So what we could not do successfully for 60 years during the government monopoly, can we really do all of it in four years?”
He,
however, said the PSRP, with global acceptance and support of the World
Bank remained a tool kit to salvage the challenges of the sector.
however, said the PSRP, with global acceptance and support of the World
Bank remained a tool kit to salvage the challenges of the sector.
“So
we have seen problems of metering, MDAs debts, tariff, gas pricing and
all of these problems that we see, the PSRP is the tool kit.
we have seen problems of metering, MDAs debts, tariff, gas pricing and
all of these problems that we see, the PSRP is the tool kit.
“So metering is part of PSRP, consumer service is part of it, preventing energy theft is part of it.
“Also,
the N701 billion payment assurance guarantee to ensure that GENCOS get
paid and paying the debts owed by the MDA to the DISCOs are all part of
the challenges.’’
the N701 billion payment assurance guarantee to ensure that GENCOS get
paid and paying the debts owed by the MDA to the DISCOs are all part of
the challenges.’’
The
minister said PSRP was also designed so that Nigerians can know,
understand and follow activities of government in the sector.
minister said PSRP was also designed so that Nigerians can know,
understand and follow activities of government in the sector.
He
said the intention of government was to translate the contents of PSRP
into major languages for easy understanding by Nigerians.
said the intention of government was to translate the contents of PSRP
into major languages for easy understanding by Nigerians.
“We want the PSRP to get into churches and mosques, to clubs and social organisations, to age grades and gender groups.
“This
is so that the conversation is open and transparent and once Nigerians
understand something, it is easier for them to run with it.’’
is so that the conversation is open and transparent and once Nigerians
understand something, it is easier for them to run with it.’’
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