FCCPC Orders Ikeja, Eko DisCos to Halt Meter Replacements Over Compliance Concerns

FCCPC Orders Ikeja, Eko DisCos to Halt Meter Replacements Over Compliance Concerns

By Fly Cable News

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has issued a firm directive to Ikeja and Eko electricity distribution companies (DisCos), ordering them to immediately suspend any plans to replace meters. The consumer protection body warned that any violation of this order would result in severe penalties.

In a statement released on Wednesday, FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, underscored the gravity of the situation, stressing that non-compliance would lead to harsh legal consequences.

This follows concerns raised last month about the DisCos’ plans to phase out Unistar prepaid meters. The FCCPC had previously intervened, insisting that the cost of replacing these meters should not be passed on to consumers.

The FCCPC’s latest statement addressed rumors that the DisCos might disregard its initial directive. The commission reiterated that the planned meter replacement must comply with existing regulations and cannot proceed without proper authorization.

While the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) recently approved new meter prices, the FCCPC clarified that these developments are unrelated to the ongoing issue regarding the Unistar meter replacements. Both the FCCPC and NERC have rejected the replacement program, and no signs of non-compliance from the DisCos have been observed.

According to NERC’s guidelines on the Structured Replacement of Faulty and Obsolete End-user Customer Meters (Order No. NERC/246/2021), meter replacements must be carried out without service interruptions, at no extra cost to consumers, and without resorting to estimated billing during the replacement process.

The FCCPC emphasized that Ikeja and Eko DisCos can only replace meters in accordance with NERC’s official order, which mandates timely replacements, continuous service, and no additional charges for customers.

The FCCPC further warned that any violation of these directives would be met with stringent penalties under existing consumer protection laws.

The Commission encouraged consumers to report any attempts by the DisCos to ignore these instructions by contacting its dedicated electricity consumer hotline, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding consumers’ rights.