Metering: Kaduna communities urge Kaduna Electric to halt exercise, allow Court to decide

Residents of Millennium City in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State have called on Kaduna Electric to suspend the proposed replacement of existing electricity meters pending the determination of a case already before the court.

The Chairman of the Ministerial Plot Housing Estate Residents Associations (MPHERA), Shafik Muazu Shira, made the plea on behalf of all four communities on Friday.

He said they were not opposed to Kaduna Electric’s proposed metering exercise, but that such should be properly done according to the laid-down rules.

“We are really concerned about the manner in which the proposed meter replacement was being carried out.

He said they remained law-abiding citizens and had established an Electricity Committee to promote the integrity of the electricity supply system while protecting the interests of both consumers and Kaduna Electric.

According to him, the matter is already before the court, and the electricity distribution company should allow the judicial process to run its course instead of taking further actions that could complicate the issues at hand.

Shira also expressed concern over a recent disconnection notice, questioning the basis for threatening to disconnect an entire community over objections to a disputed metering exercise.

He argued that refusal to accept a particular DISREP meter should not automatically lead to the disconnection of an entire community, stressing the need for compliance with the applicable Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Customer Protection Regulations.

ALSO READ: Sokoto: Army kills scores of bandits in clearance operation

The chairman also raised concerns over the proposed installation of meters on electricity poles, saying such installations must comply with relevant NERC and Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) regulations and respect the rights of electricity consumers.

He noted that NEMSA had already conducted a technical verification exercise on meters within the affected estates and identified some meters that required replacement or further action.

The chairman maintained that the exercise did not amount to a blanket approval for Kaduna Electric to replace all existing meters, urging the company to abide by NEMSA’s technical recommendations.

He also sought clarification on the status of existing Meter Asset Provider (MAP) meters purchased by residents, particularly outstanding energy-credit reimbursements and the implications of replacing such meters on the entitlements of affected consumers.

“We support Kaduna Electric, proper metering and protection of the company’s revenue, but actions must be carried out in accordance with the law.

He recalled that for nearly a decade, residents and community structures in Millennium City had cooperated with Kaduna Electric and provided support and infrastructure that facilitated electricity distribution within the communities.