Meter manufacturers want NERC to open market for free competition

The Electricity Meter Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (EMMAN) on Wednesday advised the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to open up the meter market for free competition.
Mr Muydeen Ibrahim, Executive Secretary, EMMAN, said in Lagos that such liberalisation would check the challenges of estimated billings.
He said that liberalisation would enable local manufacturers sell meters in bulk to barracks, government institutions, private estates and pther vendors accredited by NERC.
He said that several EMMAN members had been forced to reduce their workforce as a result of non-patronage by electricity distribution companies in the country.
The EMMAN scribe said such prepaid meters should be installed by Discos, instead of the current practice where Discos only provide metering facilities.
He said that while consumers were clamouring for pre-paid meters to enable them get value for their money, majority of the Discos were yet to patronise local pre-paid meters.
Ibrahim said the importation of meters was counter-productive to the local content policy put in place by NERC.
He faulted claims by investors that local firms lacked the capacity to provide the volume of meters needed locally.
He added that the production capacity of EMMAN members was far in excess of what was needed for the local market.
According to him, at the moment, the huge investment of indigenous operators is being threatened as banks want local investors to pay loans borrowed from them.
‘‘NERC should enforce the policy on local content and where a Disco fails to adhere to the policy, it should be sanctioned heavily.
“A situation where the Discos break the law with impunity is not acceptable,’’ he said.
He also urged the Federal Government to float a special intervention fund that would be accessible to its members at five per cent interest rate.