The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has said that it is addressing the ongoing concerns surrounding the phase-out of Unistar prepaid meters by Ikeja Electric Plc and other electricity distribution companies (DisCos).
This, it said, was sequel to widespread consumer complaints.
The Ikeja Electric announced recently that Unistar prepaid meters, first deployed over a decade ago, will no longer be supported from November 14, 2024, due to technological upgrades and the Token Identifier (TID) rollover issue.
The FCCPC said it has observed rising anxiety among consumers over potential financial burdens, particularly whether they will be required to cover the cost of replacement meters.
“ Further concerns relate to the possibility of consumers being placed on arbitrary estimated billing during this transition, which would violate existing rules.
“These concerns have been worsened by insufficient communication from the DisCos about the phase-out process, leading to uncertainty and distrust”, the Commission stated.