Jos Disco: Over Half of Electricity Consumers in Jos Area By-passed Meters

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) has alleged that over half of consumers by-passed metering to use free energy in the area.

Managing Director (MD) of JEDC, Alhaji Mohammed Modibo, who disclosed this while addressing journalists over the weekend, added that in Jos area (comprising of Plateau, Benue, Bauchi and Gombe states), only about 150,000 consumers were using meters, while others simply by-passed meters to use energy without paying for it.

 According to him, “when we took over and started installing smart meters on the poles where it became difficult to by-pass it suddenly became an issue, with customers crying foul and giving excuses over their bills; the truth is that they are not used to paying for the energy they consumed in the past.”

The company also debunked the recent claim by Nigeria Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) over the integrity of the smart meters the company has installed for costumers, reassuring that all its meters are tested and certified.

NEMSA had alleged that the smart meters installed by JEDC did not pass through routine test to check their quality, and to ascertain whether they are suitable for use in Nigeria. It therefore ordered that the company stops further installations until the meters are certified.

But reacting, Modibo emphasized that the smart meters were duly tested and certified by the regulatory agency before they were distributed and installed for consumers.

While presenting copies of certificate of approval from NEMSA to the Journalists, Modibo said it was strongly unfair for NEMSA to come out to claim that JEDC meters are not certified after it issued certificate of approval to the company.

Modibo however said JEDC was ready to undergo re-certification of the entire smart meters at the company’s cost in order to clear all doubts and to gain back consumers trust and confidence.

 “This time, we would go for the certification with representatives of the press, the state government, the community, the security agents, and all other stakeholders to NEMSA office in Kaduna, so that all the certification processes would be repeated in their presence; they will serve as witnesses to the re-certification process and to prove that the meters have met regulatory standard. And we would do all these at our own cost.”