Aba Power, Nigeria’s 12th electricity distribution company (DisCo), reports that its ongoing Free Mass Meter Rollout is proving to be a major success, yielding benefits for both the utility and its customers. According to Ugo Opiegbe, managing director of Aba Power, the initiative is a ‘win-win’ for both the company and customers, all critical business metrics considered.
Opiegbe, in a recent address, highlighted a notable increase in customer satisfaction and bill payments since the smart meter rollout resumed last month. While specific revenue figures were not disclosed by the MD, company sources suggest a considerable improvement in collections, potentially up to 15 per cent, despite the meters being provided free of charge.
A manager, who wished to remain anonymous, emphasised that the primary benefit extends beyond just increased revenue. “What is so important, is not so much the increase in revenue as the satisfaction on the faces of customers despite the general economic and social difficulties in the country,” the manager stated.
Customers are reportedly queueing up at offices and online platforms, expressing appreciation for the speed of free meter installation and demonstrating greater enthusiasm for settling their monthly bills.
Aba Power aims to install 20,000 smart meters every month, with a goal of providing new smart meters to at least 100,000 customers across nine of the 17 local government areas within its Aba Ring-fence Area of Abia State before the year concludes.
The rollout is systematically implemented feeder by feeder. Engr. Alfred Ategie, the manager in charge of the metering team, noted that eight of the 30 feeders in the Aba Ring-fenced Area have already received “end-to-end” metering. Current efforts are focused on the Barracks Feeder and the Abayi Feeder, which encompass major commercial and residential areas such as the prominent Azikiwe Road and Milverton Road.
Ategie also clarified that the total cost of metering all customers, estimated at over N33 billion, is being absorbed by Aba Power’s partners and is entirely free for customers. The meter rollout is a collaborative effort involving the Kayz Consortium of Nigeria, led by Prince Kalu, alongside Eve Metering Company of China (run by Nigerian Soji Olagunji), and Chinese firms DESN and CHINT.
Opiegbe underscored the broader business lesson gleaned from the initiative. “What the Aba Power Free Smart Meter Rollout has demonstrated is the immense value of transparency and integrity in business operations,” he remarked.
He explained that customers readily pay their bills when they are confident that charges accurately reflect their consumption. Conversely, he noted, customers are often reluctant to pay for estimated bills, even if those estimates are lower than actual consumption.
“Transparency and integrity have no replacements either in personal or business relationships,” Opiegbe added, positioning the meter rollout as a testament to the company’s commitment to fair billing and fostering trust with its consumer base.
