The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) in the Federal Republic of Nigeria has distanced itself from the sale and installation of defunct Unistar prepaid meters.
According to IBEDC, it has stopped the sale of Unistar prepaid meters to customers since 2014 in compliance with the directive of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The reaction of IBEDC follows reports of activities of unscrupulous agents operating within IBEDC’s franchise area selling and installing Unistar prepaid meters to unsuspecting customers.
In a statement, Management of IBEDC explained that it no longer sells Unistar prepaid meters, hence, any customer who purchased the Unistar meter after 2014 did not buy it from them neither do such customers pay for electricity they consume on those meters to IBEDC whenever they vend.
According to IBEDC, Unistar Hi-Tech Systems Limited, manufacturer’s of the meters recently issued a disclaimer that it has discontinued the production and the sale of such meters since 2014 in line with the NERC’s directive.
IBEDC explained that the Association of the Electrical Installer of Nigeria (AEIPON) which has continued to promote the sale and installation of the Unistar meter is not in anyway affiliated to them, nor does it represent the interest of the company.
IBEDC recalled that the same Association in 2017, took them to court, praying the court to compel the company to absorb the illegally sold and installed Unistar meters for some of IBEDC customers at Osun State. However, the court also held that because the meters were installed in IBEDC’s network illegally, it constitutes economic sabotage.
Despite the judgment of the Federal High Court, the Association of the Electrical Installer of Nigeria (AEIPON) in 2020, through a legal firm N.O. Folorunsho & CO wrote a letter, contesting IBEDC’s rights to disconnect illicit meters within its network and requested to install Unistar meters to customers.
“Our Legal Department in response to the letter, reinstated the court’s ruling in the case referenced above and declined the association’s request to install Unistar meters for customers within our franchise.
“This act largely is capable of misleading our esteemed customers and portraying the company as an organisation that does not have regards for the rule of law,” IBEDC noted.
Speaking about this development, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of IBEDC, Engr. John Ayodele said IBEDC, as a customer centric organisation, is committed to metering all its customers though the current National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
He appealed to customers to be more cautious and not fall into the hands of fraudsters who parade themselves as narketers, selling and installing illicit meters not recognised by the company or approved by NERC.
‘’From the 105,000 meters allocated to IBEDC under Phase zero of NMMP, we have metered over 69,000 of our customers while we continue to give free meters to customers within our network as the next phase of the program kicks off soon. Do not pay anyone for meter or installation’’ Engr. Ayodele explained.
He also advised customers or stakeholders that want meters to visit any IBEDC office closest to them or call our customer Care line 07001239999, for more information and clarification visit www.ibedc.com.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com