By Kenneth Onuoha
The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has commenced free mass meter roll-out to electricity consumers in the South East under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).
The Head, Corporate Communications, EEDC, Mr Emeka Ezeh, made this known on Sunday, January 24, 2021, in a statement made available to newsmen in Enugu, Enugu state.
The NMMP is an initiative of the federal government, designed to ensure speedy deployment of meters to electricity customers, as a conscious way of closing the identified metering gap in the country.
Ezeh assured that customers would receive the NMMP meters, free of charge, as against the former requirement of making anyl upfront payment before getting a meter.
“We kicked off the roll out of the NMMP meters on Thursday, January 21 2021, using select feeders under our Ogui and Abakpa Districts as pilot.
“Already, pre-installation survey has begun at these pilot locations, and the NMMP meters are being installed simultaneously.
“Customers are requested to cooperate with EEDC as the modalities for deployment will be according to feeders and distribution substations.
“Information on this will be made available to customers as the exercise progresses,’’ he said.
He advised customers against falling victim to some elements that might want to extort them of their hard-earned money in the process; adding that “the meter is free and with time it will get to everyone’’.
According to him, it is expected that by the end of 2021, a substantial number of electricity customers within the EEDC network, which is the entire South-East, will have been metered.
Ezeh noted that the NMMP programme would go a long way in reducing the high Aggregate, Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC & C) losses of the company.
He also said that the new metering initiative would enhance EEDC’s revenue, eliminate issues bothering on estimated billing and also enable customers to manage their energy consumption.
“EEDC reaffirms its commitment to metering its customers and ensuring that the NMMP, which will help close the metering gap and gradually put an end to issues around estimated billing, succeeds,’’ he added.