Someone sent this to a whatsapp group that I belong to. Is it fake news?





GOOD NEWS: House Of Reps Pass Bill Making Estimated Billing A Criminal Offence

https://skytrendnews.com/2019/01/22/good-news-house-of-reps-pass-bill-making-estimated-billing-a-criminal-offence/

*UPDATE ON PREPAID Meter in Nigeria*

PHCN officials are currently going round to take inventory of all existing *Old Meters* in view of the *February 28th deadline* from *NERC - The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission* that all *DISCO's Electricity Distribution Companies* should provide and install *Electronic Prepaid Meter* to all subscribers *Free of any charge.* before the said date or face severe sanctions...

Nigerians have suffered enough from being robbed by faceless corrupt officials via the inhuman *Estimated Billing System* where you pay for what you don't use.

It is better to have the prepaid meter and not have light than to have light without prepaid meter.

The logic is simple, if you have the prepaid meter it means you will only pay for what you use. No estimated bills, no cutting of light, no stealing from you, no nonsense and if they don't supply power FINE! they will not make any money from you.

*THE REAL ISSUE*

Our problem with PHCN in Nigeria is not power supply, let that sink in...

Our problem is internal administration (The running of the company). The solution is proper administration.

*PREPAID METER IS THE SOLUTION*

With prepaid meter PHCN will sit up and begin to perform because they will know that if they don't supply power they will not make free money.

They know this, that's why they continue to sabotage the whole thing so that they will continue with the robbery which is the estimated billing system, over charging users and getting fat.

Like the telecoms companies, who have to supply network or else no money for them if people do not use up their airtime and data.

Nigerians must stop asking for power supply, that is not the solution *INSIST ON YOUR PREPAID METER IT IS YOUR RIGHT!* and the solution to the massive looting going on among the Electricity Distribution Companies.

*A message from... NERC*

(Kindly Broadcast this message.)

The answer to your question is NO and YES:
1. No, it is not fake news, because the NERC actually made such a pronouncement.
2. Yes, it is fake news, because that pronouncement was actually made in January 2017 (two years ago), with the deadline set at 28th February, 2017.

However, the deadline couldn't be met, as detailed in the article below:
=========================================
SOURCE: https://t.guardian.ng/news/discos-miss-february-deadline-for-metering-of-electricity-customers/

The Guardian News

Discos miss February deadline for metering of electricity customers - By Roseline Okere
28 February 2017 | 4:29 am

Electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) have failed to meet the February 28, 2017 deadline set by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for provision of pre-paid meters to customers nationwide. The development comes as electricity generation stagnated yesterday 27th February 2017 at 4,315.45 mega watts, a far cry from national peak demand of 19,100 MW. It was learnt that the unenviable situation, majorly caused by gas constraints, had resulted in power firms incurring almost N869 million loss this month alone.

Following complaints of high rates by customers arising from estimated billing, the regulator had mandated Discos to meter consumers across the federation, threatening defaulters with sanctions from March 1st, 2017. It even went the extra mile of asking unmetered customers to lodge reports at any of its offices on the due date.

Reacting, the utility companies said they could not undertake the project under the current foreign exchange regime in the country, adding that the situation had made it practically impossible for them to source funds for procurement of the facilities.
They contended that the deadline applied only to unmetered multinational firms.

Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, Sunday Oduntan, in an interview with The Guardian, said the regulators were aware of what the body was doing as regards maximum demand customers (being the multinational companies), adding that they had recorded appreciable progress.

He explained that the association had been able to provide over three million meters since privatisation. On metering of regular customers, Odutan noted: “There is no technology that will provide over three million meters to Nigerian customers over 12 months. The regulators know about this and that is why they set February 28 ultimatum for us to provide meters for the maximum demand customers.”

But NERC’s Acting Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Akah, assured that the commission would take measures to check exploitation through estimated billing.

prof2007:
The answer to your question is NO and YES:
1. No, it is not fake news, because the NERC actually made such a pronouncement.
2. Yes, it is fake news, because that pronouncement was actually made in January 2017 (two years ago), with the deadline set at 28th February, 2017.

However, the deadline couldn't be met, as detailed in the article below:
=========================================
SOURCE: https://t.guardian.ng/news/discos-miss-february-deadline-for-metering-of-electricity-customers/

The Guardian News

Discos miss February deadline for metering of electricity customers - By Roseline Okere
28 February 2017 | 4:29 am

Electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) have failed to meet the February 28, 2017 deadline set by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for provision of pre-paid meters to customers nationwide. The development comes as electricity generation stagnated yesterday 27th February 2017 at 4,315.45 mega watts, a far cry from national peak demand of 19,100 MW. It was learnt that the unenviable situation, majorly caused by gas constraints, had resulted in power firms incurring almost N869 million loss this month alone.

Following complaints of high rates by customers arising from estimated billing, the regulator had mandated Discos to meter consumers across the federation, threatening defaulters with sanctions from March 1st, 2017. It even went the extra mile of asking unmetered customers to lodge reports at any of its offices on the due date.

Reacting, the utility companies said they could not undertake the project under the current foreign exchange regime in the country, adding that the situation had made it practically impossible for them to source funds for procurement of the facilities.
They contended that the deadline applied only to unmetered multinational firms.

Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, Sunday Oduntan, in an interview with The Guardian, said the regulators were aware of what the body was doing as regards maximum demand customers (being the multinational companies), adding that they had recorded appreciable progress.

He explained that the association had been able to provide over three million meters since privatisation. On metering of regular customers, Odutan noted: “There is no technology that will provide over three million meters to Nigerian customers over 12 months. The regulators know about this and that is why they set February 28 ultimatum for us to provide meters for the maximum demand customers.”

But NERC’s Acting Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Akah, assured that the commission would take measures to check exploitation through estimated billing.

Well, PHCN men were at my home today to get data of the house, account number, including pictures. They confirmed to me that they have been given deadline of March 31st to freely provide prepaid meter so it was not fake news.