NAN-H-59
Meters
Jos, April 6, 2017(NAN) The Nigerian Electricity Management Service Agency (NEMSA) has accused the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC), of installing smart prepaid meters that have not been tested and certified.
“Every smart meter we have certified carries our seal; the smart meters currently being installed in Plateau are not certified by us and do not carry our seals,” Mr Peter Ewesor, NEMSA Managing Director, said in Jos on Thursday.
Ewesor, who is the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, spoke after moving round some parts of Jos to assess the new smart meters already installed by the electricity company.
He said that the assessment became necessary after NEMSA received a petition from the Plateau Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Electrification, alerting it of a public uproar over the installation of smart meters that had no NEMSA seals.
“In the petition, consumers alleged that the meters were leaking currents, even when they had been switched off.
“The consumers also said that they had been paying for more than double what they consumed, because the meters were not genuine,” he said.
Ewesor said that the smart meters installed on the Plateau had not undergone any form of test by NEMSA.
He said that meters brought into the country were usually tested for quality and accuracy, and whether they could adapt to Nigeria’s climatic conditions.
According to him, it is only when such tests are conducted and certified that NEMSA’s seal would be installed on the meters as an attestation.
He said that the tests were usually carried out at the National Meters Test Stations located in Lagos, Kaduna or Port-Harcourt.
“I have seen the meters and it is clear that there are no NEMSA seals and signs on them.
“There is nothing to indicate that NEMSA has tested the meters I have seen in people’s compounds; JEDC must retrieve them and take them to the National Meters Test Station for the routine test to be carried out.
“In the meantime, JEDC must halt the installation of these meters till they are tested and certified,” he said.
The NEMSA boss also criticised the installation of the smart meters on sagging wooden poles, which he said was dangerous.
He said that the meters should be installed on appropriate structures approved by NEMSA.
Some JEDC customers, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the smart meters, complained about leakages which had caused them to pay more for power.
Mr. Samuel Tokz, Chairman, Jos Federal Low-Cost residents, who spoke on the development, urged JEDC to replace the meters with certified ones so as to save the customers from paying for what they were not enjoying.
Reacting to the allegations, Mr Verr Jirbo, JEDC Executive Director in charge of Marketing, said that the smart prepaid meters were certified ones.
“The meters have certification. The only aspect lacking is the NEMSA seal which is not on them. But the meters are genuine and work perfectly.”
He said that JEDC would ensure that all the meters carried the NEMSA seals, and dismissed allegations that the facilities were leaking currents. (NAN)
UBO/ETS
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Edited by Ephraims Sheyin