The National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has given Electricity distribution companies (Discos) until January 1, 2025, to complete the upgrade of meters to the Standard Transfer Specifications (STS) 2 vending platform.
Arbiterz had earlier reported that Electricity distribution companies warned customers still vending on outdated meters that from November 24th, only customers currently vending on old meters who upgrade to the STS 2 meters would be able to recharge their meters.
NERC has extended the deadline to January 1, 2025, as revealed in its statement at the end of the Fourth Quarter of, the 2024 Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) stakeholders meeting.
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NERC Threatens Discos
In its statement, NERC also vowed to impose sanctions on defaulting Discos after the deadline elapses.
The statement reads “NERC has directed DisCos to rapidly conclude the migration of STS-Meters for all their customers to prevent service disruption.
“During the Q4 NESI Stakeholders Meeting, the Commission warned that daily penalties would be imposed for each meter not migrated effective from 1st January 2025.”
The Commission further warned that once the deadline passes, sanctions would be imposed on Discos daily for any meter not upgraded or faulty meters not replaced within its jurisdiction.
The commission also reiterated that the meter upgrade and replacement of faulty meters should be free for consumers. Consumers should also never be transferred to estimated billing by Discos as a result of the meter upgrade.
Significance
The new January 1, 2025 deadline gives customers one month extra to upgrade their meters and resolve other meter problems with Disco after the initial November 24th deadline elapsed.