We’ll bridge 5.66 million metering gap, DisCos assure Nigerians

The power distribution companies have assured Nigerians that they are committed to bridging the 5.66 million metering gap through effective free meter distribution.

The 11 DisCos gave the assurance at a strategic stakeholders meeting held in the conference room of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (PBE).

In his address at the gathering, the Director General of BPE, Mr Ayodeji Gbeleyi, said the interactive session is for appraisal of the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP), which basically aims at bridging the metering gap of 5.66 million Nigerians.

Gbeleyi revealed that “under phase one of the programme being financed by $500million financial facility offered by the World Bank, 700, 000 meters were supplied out of which 200, 000 have been installed.”

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He pleaded with the DisCos to ensure seamless implementation of the programme by having all their customers metered in line with the policy direction and vision of the federal government.

“DISREP is a World Bank-supported intervention designed to improve the performance and financial sustainability of Nigeria’s Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos ).

“Specifically, it focuses on closing the metering gap currently estimated at about 5.3million by NERC.

“Broadly, it is to ensure that the objectives of the federal government’s power sector reform for improved operational efficiency and financial viability are achieved before the end of the year,” he said.

In their individual presentations, the Managing Directors of the various DisCos, who acknowledged sharp practices by installers of the meters, assured Nigerians that they are fully in support of the intervention programme and see to its success.

They disowned meter installers collecting money from customers and vowed to expose anybody found wanting, just as they appealed to electricity consumers not to bypass the meters, a practise, they noted, is pervasive.

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