Eko Disco installs 8,133 smart meters in six months

The management of Eko Electricity Distribution Plc (EKEDP) installed 8, 133 smart meters for consumers within its jurisdiction in the last six months, Godwin Idemudia, the Assistant General Manager, EKEDP’s Public Affairs Division, said on Thursday.

Idemudia said that the figure was from the 40,574 consumers that had applied for smart meters under the Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) scheme.

CAPMI is a credited scheme created by Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to enable consumers to pay for meters by installments.

Idemudia also said that company would soon deploy no less than 41,000 meters to consumers who had applied for them after they must have satisfied the stipulated requirements.

“The company has so far installed 8,133 meters in the last six months, but we have just received about 41,000 new meters awaiting installation.

“After a consumer applies for the meter, a form will be given to him or her where he will state all his energy consumption.

“This is to know if the consumer will require a one-phase meter or a three-phase meter.

“We have observed that after installation, some of our customers will add to their consumption which had led to meters being burnt or damaged in the past.

“That’s why we opted for smart meters because they are strong and reliable,” he said.

He appealed to the consumers to exercise patience, adding that they would soon get their meters.

Smart metering is the new technology in electricity metering, which creates an interface between electricity providers and consumers.

The smart meters are available both in prepaid and post-paid formats.

It also allows the electricity providers to access and monitor how their consumers are consuming electricity from their offices and ascertain the working conditions of such meters.