Residents Ask Kaduna Electric To Halt Meter Replacement

Residents of Millennium City in Kaduna State have urged Kaduna Electric to suspend the planned replacement of existing electricity meters pending the determination of a case currently before the court.

The residents, under the aegis of the Ministerial Plot Housing Estate Residents Association (MPHERA), said they were not opposed to proper metering or the development of the electricity sector but objected to the manner in which the proposed replacement was being undertaken.

Chairman of MPHERA, Shafik Muazu Shira, who spoke on behalf of the various residents’ associations at a press conference in Kaduna, said the residents remained committed to a peaceful and lawful resolution of the disagreement.

He said they had established an Electricity Committee to promote the integrity of electricity supply in the area while protecting the interests of consumers and Kaduna Electric.

According to him, with the matter already before the court, the electricity distribution company should allow the judicial process to run its course and avoid actions that could further complicate the dispute.
Shira also faulted a recent disconnection notice issued to the community, questioning the basis for threatening to disconnect an entire community over objections to the disputed metering exercise.

He argued that residents’ refusal to accept a particular DISREP meter should not automatically result in the disconnection of an entire community, stressing the need for Kaduna Electric to comply with the applicable regulations of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), particularly those relating to customer protection.

The residents also raised concerns over the proposed installation of meters on electricity poles, insisting that such installations must comply with relevant NERC and Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) regulations.

Shira said NEMSA had previously conducted a technical verification exercise on meters within the affected estates and identified some that required replacement or further action.

He urged the company to adhere strictly to NEMSA’s technical recommendations and engage the residents on the implementation of any approved replacements.

Shira recalled that residents and community structures in Millennium City had, for almost a decade, cooperated with Kaduna Electric and provided support and infrastructure that facilitated electricity distribution across the communities.

He also urged the company to return to the negotiating table with the residents, stressing that the dispute could be resolved through meaningful engagement.