Residents of Millennium City in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State have asked Kaduna Electric to suspend the proposed replacement of existing electricity meters pending the determination of a case already before the court.
Ministerial Plot Estate Residents Association (MPHERA) president Shafik Muazu Shira made the request on behalf of the four communities on Friday.
He said they were not opposed to the metering exercise proposed by Kaduna Electric but it should be properly carried out in accordance with the established rules.
“We are really concerned about the way the meter replacement proposal was carried out.
He said they remained law-abiding citizens and had established an Electricity Committee to promote the integrity of the electricity supply system while protecting the interests of both consumers and Kaduna Electric.
According to him, the matter is already before the courts and the electricity distribution company should let the judicial process take its course instead of taking further actions that may complicate the issues at hand.
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The President also expressed concern over the proposed installation of meters on electricity poles, saying such installations must comply with relevant regulations of NERC and the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) and respect the rights of electricity consumers.
He noted that NEMSA had already conducted a technical verification exercise of meters within the affected farms and identified some meters that required replacement or additional actions.
The President maintained that the exercise did not amount to a blanket approval for Kaduna Electric to replace all existing meters, and urged the company to comply with NEMSA’s technical recommendations.
It also sought clarification on the status of existing Meter Asset Providers (MAP) meters purchased by residents, particularly outstanding energy credit refunds and the implications of replacing such meters on the rights of affected consumers.
“We support Kaduna Electric, proper metering and protecting the company’s revenue, but actions must be taken in accordance with the law.
He recalled that for almost a decade, Millennium City residents and community structures had cooperated with Kaduna Electric and provided support and infrastructure that facilitated the distribution of electricity within the communities.
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