Management wish to categorically state that this does not in any way represent deliberations at the meeting. As part of our customer engagement approach in dialoguing with stakeholders, EEDC requested for the meeting to discuss the grievances expressed by NUF in their letter to EEDC dated 6th January, 2020.
EEDC addressed all the issues raised in the letter and explained the rationale for decommissioning the meters that are no longer compatible with EEDC network.
We also informed them of steps taken by the company to make the migration exercise seamless, which was widely publicized in National newspapers and other media.
As stated in our various communication, the exercise was necessitated by the integrated system upgrade embarked on by EEDC, and the increasing difficulty in providing support for the card reader system used in vending these meters. Consequently, EEDC could no longer provide support for the vending system that allows customers using the standalone meters to recharge their meters.
Our apex regulatory body, NERC, has licensed Meter Asset Providers (MAP) to deploy meters to customers. EEDC has been actively engaged in promoting and facilitating this metering scheme designed and approved by NERC, which allow customers procure meters from the third-party meter providers at a cost.
MAP scheme is a laudable initiative of NERC and FGN which has made it easier for electricity consumers nationwide to procure meters faster than was obtained before. To further underscore our commitment to a smooth transition, EEDC has undertaken to provide meters for this category of customers with option of payment in 24 monthly installments.
Contrary to the claim in the said press release, this meter swap exercise is for only customers in areas where these meters were deployed in the first place. Within our network, out of the five states covered by EEDC, these meters were not installed in Abia and Ebonyi States and consequently no customer in these two states are affected.
In total, less than 40,000 customers are affected, while EEDC has in recent times metered over 250,000 customers within the last 3 years.
We advise our customers to disregard the information contained in the said publication. Affected customers should continue to avail themselves of the opportunities presented by the process put in place by EEDC to ensure a seamless meter swap exercise.
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