The recent directive from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission states that electricity distribution companies are required to replace any meters that are phased out due to an upgrade. While there is no official instruction to phase out Unistar meters, they will soon be obsolete due to technological advancements, preventing users from vending. The Commission emphasizes that any meters being replaced by Discos must be substituted promptly to avoid disruptions in customer metering services.
In efforts to address Nigeria’s significant metering gap, some Discos are adamant that customers must receive new meters by a November 14 deadline. The Vice Chairman of NERC, Musiliu Oseni, clarified that the decision to phase out Unistar meters is managed operationally by the Discos, particularly concerning the Token Identifier Rollover. Oseni highlighted that as Unistar meters are not upgradable, they will eventually need to be phased out.
During the phase-out process, customers should not be subjected to estimated billing or denied electricity access. Oseni stressed that if customers are required to purchase meters under the MAP framework, Discos must establish a transparent refund mechanism as part of their obligation to customers. The All Electricity Consumer Protection Forum has urged certain electricity distribution companies to halt meter decommissioning until formal regulatory approval is obtained from NERC. The forum expressed disappointment over the lack of a replacement plan for the phased-out meters in a letter dated October 15, 2024.