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We’ve metered over 120,000 households – Ikeja Electric
By Abiodun Adebayo
Contrary to the complaints by its customers that the electricity distribution company was preventing them from being metered, Ikeja Electric (IE) has declared that it has metered over one 120,000 households between 2018 and June 2020.
In a statement on Monday, the company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Felix Ofulue said the company has upheld the decision and followed the directive of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to bridge the metering gap and reduce the incidence of estimated bills, adding that the company has doubled its efforts to achieve the objective of metering all its customers in the shortest possible time.
He informed that the company has planned to meter another 400,000 customers in the next two years.
“Apart from eradicating estimated billing, Ikeja Electric’s metering program has also provided jobs, directly and indirectly, for thousands of Lagosians and Nigerians in general, particularly during the lockdown,” he said.
He noted that metering of customers under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme is still ongoing despite the logistic challenges emanating from the Covid-19 pandemic.
He stated that the company has also metered Maximum Demand (MD) customers in the network and conducts period recertifications of the meters in line with Regulatory procedures.
“In addition to consumer metering, Ikeja Electric has also metered all the 33kv /11kv feeders from the injection stations ensuring energy accountability across its delivery points. In addition, the local distribution transformers have also been metered up to 100 per cent while the metering of newly installed transformers after completion of the project is ongoing,” he explained.
However, Ofulue urged customers to take advantage of the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme to get their meters by applying via the IE portal map.ikejaelectric.com.
He directed them to use their Ikeja Electric’s account number on the bill to log into the portal and update their KYC (Know Your Customer) details.
He informed that the company has set up a debt resolution panel in the Six Business Units to address complaints on outstanding bills and other related issues to ensure reconciliation while customers are processing the application for meter.
He therefore urged the prospective customers trying to apply for a new to meter to make sure they pay into the designated bank account provided by the MAP and always include their Application Reference Number (ARN) when making the payments.
He further explained that with the upward review of meter prices by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the new price for Single Phase Meter has increased to N48,263.37 while the price of the Three Phase Meter has also been raised to N89,069.33 since June 1, 2020.
However, he said that customers who have paid before June 1, 2020 under the MAP scheme, but yet to be metered should forward their payment evidence stating Account Name, Application Reference Number (ARN) and IE Account Number to FinanceMap@ikejaelctric.com for prompt confirmation.
Ofulue advised customers not to pay or give money to either Ikeja Electric staff or MAP for meter and installation. Rather, they should send an email to customercare@ikejaelectric.com or call IE Customer Care help lines 01-4883900, 01-7000250, 09087980825 for clarification on issues that are not clear.
