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Ref No: NEMSA/TS/MLSD/0156/T2 Date: 8th April 2020
GUIDELINES FOR THE TESTING OF ELECTRICITY METERS TO BE DEPLOYED UNDER THE METER ASSET PROVIDERS (MAP) SCHEME DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN PERIOD BY NEMSA NATIONAL METER TEST STATION IN OSHODI, PORT HARCOURT AND KADUNA
NEMSA wishes to assure its customers of the highest level of preparedness and diligence towards ensuring the continuity of routine testing and certification of electricity meters before deployment by MAPs/MSPs during this COVID-19 lockdown period. In light of the above the following guidelines have been put in place:
- Routine test requests initiated through phone by the MAP supplier to NEMSA personnel.
- Presentation of a letter of intent (application letter) and proof of payment via email by MAP supplier.
- Submission of soft copies of the list of electricity meters in the batch with the serial numbers to NMTS via email by MAP supplier for random sampling of 10% of the submitted electricity meters for routine test by NEMSA.
- The randomly selected 10% will be immediately communicated via email to the MAP supplier for physical submission of the selected electricity meters for the routine testing.
- In view of the prevalent COVID-19 pandemic, electricity meters brought by MAP supplier for testing will be quarantined for four (4) days. This is a necessary precautionary measure against possible contamination during transit since this is the expected duration the virus may survive on metal as per expert advice.
- Any batch of One thousand (1000) electricity meters or less, would have all the lot tested.
- Batches of electricity meters brought to NEMSA that are above One thousand (1000) will have only 10% of the batches to be routine tested. The tested 10% will be sealed at the NMTS while the NEMSA crimp seals and labels for the balance will be handed to the MAP supplier /manufacturer to fix them on the remaining 90% electricity meters at their facilities/premises before deployment to the consumer’s premises. However, if the rate of failure during routine test is much and outside the limits, the percentage of electricity meters to be routine tested will increase as follows:
- If the failure rate in a batch of electricity meters brought for routine test is over 2.5% but less than 5%, then the percentage of the electricity meters in the batch brought for routine test will be increased to 15%.
- If the rate of failure is over 5% but less than 7.5% in the batch of electricity meters under consideration, then the percentage of electricity meters to be routine tested will be increased to 20% and
- If the failure rate is over 7.5% but less than 10% in the batch of electricity meters under consideration then the percentage of electricity meters for routine test will be increased to 30%, and
- If the failure rate is equal to 10% and above, the vendors will have to evacuate the entire consignment from NEMSA premises for rework/necessary correction of noticed defects.
- That the responsibility of accurately affixing the aforementioned crimp seals and labels on the on the balance 90% electricity meters lies with the MAP supplier/Manufacturers, as electricity meters that are wrongly fitted with crimp seals would have the consequences of not appearing on the NEMSA database for correct verification.
- That all electricity meters brought to our facility for testing, must be brought between 9:00am and 12:00 noon of each working day. Electricity meters brought outside the specified working hours will not be attended to until the next working day.
Thanks for your usual cooperation at this crucial moment/period of the COVID-19 lockdown.
Engr. Peter O. Ewesor
Managing Director/CEO &
Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation
