Taiwo Popoola
The management of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has denied extorting customers over the ongoing STS 2-meter upgrade.
It insisted that the programme was free for its customers.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), had on Wednesday warned the Distribution Companies, DISCOs to cease all activities related to the planned replacement of Unistar meters.
Having noticed that some operatives requesting money from unsuspecting citizens for the upgrade, EKEDC has restated that the STS-2 meter upgrade is free and as such no citizen should offer any financial gratification or other forms of gratification to anyone in the process of upgrading their meters to the STS-2 platform and had earlier announced a deadline for customers to switch all meters to the STS-2 platform to continue recharging their meters.
The publication of EKEDC stated that their attention has been drawn to the activities of some unscrupulous members of the society demanding payment for the STS – 2 meter upgrade process, while informing customers and the general public that the STS 2 meter upgrade is free and EKEDC would not make demands of anyone to pay for the upgrade.
In a statement tagged “Obsolete Meters”, Violation of Consumers Rights Will Have Stiff Consequences, the FCCPA called for a halt on such activities.
According to the statement, “Sections 17(j), (l) (s), 116 (2), 124, 125, 138 and 155 of the FCCPA Act 2018, “ The FCCPC notes with concern recent rumours that its directive to Ikeja and Eko electricity distribution companies (IKEDC and EKEDC) to immediately cease all activities related to the planned replacement of Unistar meters may be flouted. The directive remains in full force, and any attempt by these DisCos to proceed in contravention of it will attract severe consequences.”
The statement issued by Director, Corporate Affairs, FCCPA, Ondaje Ijagwu, stated that contrary to recent rumours, the approval of new meter prices by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has no connection with the proposed replacement of Unistar meters by Ikeja Electric and EKEDC, adding that the planned replacement has been invalidated by both the FCCPC and NERC, and there is no indication that the affected DisCos have breached our directives.
It added that it is essential to clarify that Ikeja and Eko DisCos cannot proceed with the withdrawal or replacement of the Unistar meters unless they fully comply with NERC’s Order on Structured Replacement of Faulty and Obsolete End-user Customer Meters in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (Order No. NERC/246/2021).
The order, according to the statement mandated that meter replacements must be prompt, without disrupting service and at no cost to the consumer; and ensuring that consumers are not subjected to estimated billing due to delayed installations.
It said that the FCCPC’s position remains clear as non-compliance with these directives by Ikeja and Eko DisCos will not be tolerated, stressing that any breach of the directive will attract stiff penalties in line with the provisions of existing consumer protection laws.
