BRINGING THE METERING GAP: ALAPANSANPA SUPPORTS FG'S PLAN TO END ESTIMATED BILLING SYSTEM

The acting Executive Secretary to the Association of Electricity Meter Manufacturers in Nigeria, Mallam (Barrister) Yahaya Olatunji Yahaya Alapasanpa, has disclosed that estimated billing system will soon be a thing of the past in the country and that customers will soon be able to get their Pre-Paid Electricity Meters within seven days.

Speaking with the Publisher of KWARA PEOPLE magazine, Abdul-Hameed Oladipupo Alli, Barrister Olatunji Alapansanpa stated that his resolve is in compliance with the directive of the Federal Government (FG) under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari's order for all Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOS) to terminate estimated billing and commence a nationwide mass-metering programme in response to the yearnings of Nigerians.

Speaking earlier on SURPRISE DIGEST, a Channels TV Live program where Bridging The Metering Gap and plans to end estimated Billing System were addressed, Alapansanpa assured that 'it is now realistic for those hoping to get Pre-Paid meters to stop getting estimated billings as they can now get their meters immediately'.

He explained further that the Discos are not only opened for those willing to get expression of interest applications for Meters, but customers have to be ready to be metered as well.

For those who have in the past paid for CAPMA and who have since been on the long waiting list for their meters, Olatunji, who is also the Company Secretary Momas Electricity Meter Manufacturing Coy.(MEMMCOL),the largest electricity meter manufacturer in Sub- Saharan Africa, explained that CAPMA is in the past and 'We are talking about MAP now but what we are saying is that, you can get a Meter when you approach your distribution company CAPMI and that your Disco has not incentive not to meter you as a customer because the Regulator - Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has capped that amount of estimated billings which will be charged on Residential ( R2) and Commercial (C1) Customers.

There is restriction on Meters called Commercial Customer (C1). If you put in an application, it has to be forwarded to your MAP and if you are meterable and you have cleared all your bills,  I think you have to be metered in seven days'. He concluded.