Prepaid Meters: Indigenous producers record 79% under-performance in phase zero of NMMP
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…Consumers groan under estimated bills; NERC remains optimistic
By Udeme Akpan & Obas Esiedesa
THERE are indications that the April 2021 target of providing one million prepaid meters to consumers under the phase zero of National Mass Metering Programme, NMMP, would not be met as indigenous producers have recorded 79 per cent under-performance.
The indigenous producers and others were expected to provide the one million meters under the NMMP as a strategy to increase domestic manufacturing capacity, additional jobs creation and conservation of scarce foreign exchange. But as at April 16, 2021, the producers were only able to supply 210,000 prepaid, indicating 21 per cent performance, to the various Electricity Distribution Companies; DisCos in the nation, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC.
Nigeria Exporting Electricity Meters Despite Five Million Deficit
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Breaking News | Prepaid Meters: Indigenous producers record 79% under-performance in phase zero of NMMP
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As Nigeria continues to bill over five million electricity customers arbitrarily amid rising cost of electricity, some meter assemblers in the country have started exporting the facility to other African countries to survive alleged Federal Government’s flawed policies.
The novel development bolstered by opportunities in the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), is fuelled by the monopolistic approach adopted by the Federal Government, especially in awarding metering contracts to companies with alleged inadequate capacity.
A visit by The Guardian to some plants and warehouses showed that while the Federal Government’s National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP), and the Meter Asset Providers (MAP) scheme struggle to disburse meters to deserving households, hundreds of thousands of the assets are stored up in some warehouses without patronage.
Peter Uzoho
Nigerians are expected to enjoy improved power supply in the coming weeks owing to the return of the rainy season and the resultant decline in water constraints suffered by hydro power plants, a report by the Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) has predicted.
This is coming as an electricity distribution company (Disco) has decried the unwillingness amongst consumers under its network to register and be metered under the federal government’s National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) despite the fact that the programme does not entail upfront payment.
The FDC, in its economic bi-monthly update made available to THISDAY, however, warned that gas shortages would remain the principal challenge to power producers as gas fired thermal power plants account for approximately 70 per cent of total power generation.