(Ecofin Agency) - The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has signed a contract worth $3.7 million‎ with ZTE Nigerian LTD, for the supply of 30 000 pre-paid meters. This is aimed at ensuring proper billing system, and greater transparency in energy transactions with the consumers.

“On the customer side, the meters measure the energy which the customer is consuming. As a result, the customer is able to read the units and how they are being depleted‎. Metering increases transparency because the customer knows what he is paying for. It also helps our balance-sheet, once it is not sabotaged. On the utility side, it improves working capital, and it means that more improvement programmes can be accommodated, such as distribution of more transformers, more pre-paid meters, and training of our staff,” Ernest Mupwaya (photo), the Managing director of AEDC, said.

According to him, the new contract brings the total number of available pre-paid meter targets for 2017 to 120 000. “The AEDC it would be recalled, had ‎earlier this year procured 30,000 pre-paid meters. Just last week, we procured another 60,000 with MOJEC metering company. If we add today’s 30,000 procured from ZTE, it would be a total of 120 000 pre-paid meters. This brings it to a total of 120 000 meters and also sums up our yearly target of 120 000 pre-paid meters to customers.”

He said ‎the meters will be deployed in areas where enumeration had been carried out by the AEDC.

For his part, ‎Fan Jian, the Managing director of ZTE noted that the AEDC remains the company’s highest customer among other discos. He pledged more quality services and effective delivery.

Anita Fatunji