FCCPC Warns Ikeja, Eko DisCos of Sanctions
By Patience Ikpeme
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has issued a strong warning to Ikeja and Eko Electricity Distribution Companies (IKEDC and EKEDC) about the consequences of defying its directive to halt all activities related to the planned replacement of Unistar meters.
In a statement released on Wednesday, FCCPC Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Ondaje Ijagwu, reiterated that the Commission’s directive remains in effect and emphasized that any attempt by the distribution companies (DisCos) to proceed against it would result in serious repercussions.
“The directive remains in full force, and any attempt by these DisCos to proceed in contravention of it will attract severe consequences,” the statement read. “Contrary to recent rumors, the approval of new meter prices by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has no connection with the proposed replacement of Unistar meters by IKEDC and EKEDC.”
The FCCPC clarified that both it and NERC have invalidated the planned Unistar meter replacement, and there is no indication that the DisCos have violated the directive.
The statement further explains that Ikeja and Eko DisCos cannot proceed with removing or replacing Unistar meters unless they fully comply with NERC’s Order on the Structured Replacement of Faulty and Obsolete End-User Customer Meters in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (Order No. NERC/246/2021).
This order mandates that meter replacements must be prompt, conducted without service disruption, at no cost to the consumer, and that customers should not be subjected to estimated billing due to delayed installations.
“The FCCPC’s position remains clear: non-compliance with these directives by Ikeja and Eko DisCos will not be tolerated. Any breach of this directive will attract stiff penalties in line with existing consumer protection laws,” the statement concluded.
