The federal government has begun distributing new prepaid meters for Band A electricity customers across the country.
The initiative falls under the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) Metering Scheme, which is funded by a World Bank loan aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s electricity distribution network through the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
Under this scheme, 1.3 million meters will be distributed to Band A customers, leaving out customers on other service bands. According to the Jos Electricity Distribution Plc (JED Plc), 109,000 prepaid meters will be given out and installed free of charge for customers connected to Band A feeders within its coverage areas.
In a statement released yesterday, JED Plc explained that the free metering exercise is intended to bridge the metering gap and improve electricity service delivery in its franchise states of Bauchi, Benue, Gombe, and Plateau. A pilot phase of the programme has already started in Plateau State.
The company emphasized that the meters will only be provided to unmetered customers currently on Band A feeders and will also be used to replace faulty meters. However, the scheme will not cover new electricity connections.
The statement clarified that, “The scheme will not cover New Connections as all new connections must apply via the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) Scheme and no direct connection on Band A feeders will be allowed.”
JED Plc further stressed that the DISREP meters are completely free, warning customers not to pay anyone for either the meters or their installation.
“Any customer who makes such payments does so at their own risk, as the company will not be liable for any loss incurred. Fraud-related complaints should be reported, with evidence, to our communication channels,” the company added.
The prepaid meters being distributed under the scheme are designed with advanced technology to improve efficiency and transparency. The features include automated token uploads that eliminate the need for manual entries through the User Interface Unit, geo-lock functionality that ensures each meter only works at its assigned GPS location, and real-time monitoring of energy consumption.
JED Plc stated that alerts will be sent when tokens are exhausted or when prolonged non-purchase occurs.
The meters also come with tamper and bypass detection systems. In the event of interference, instant notifications are sent to JED Plc. Customers benefiting from the free meters are advised to visit the nearest JED Plc office after installation to validate their debt profile.
This development marks the second free metering scheme introduced specifically for Band A customers since the federal government removed electricity subsidies for that category in April 2024. Earlier, a scheme known as the Meters Acquisition Fund (MAF) was introduced.
It was funded through deductions from revenues of electricity Distribution Companies. According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC), 41,855 meters were installed in the first phase of MAF, with N21 billion generated from the fund.
Speaking on the current programme, Barr. Bode Fadipe, CEO of Sage Consulting & Communications, noted that advertorials for the scheme made it clear that the DISREP meters are reserved for Band A users alone. He explained, “The implications are quite clear.
First is that under the DISREP, end users in other Bands – B-D will not benefit from it. There is therefore a delineation. The target figure is 109,000 customers who may have been prelisted when the proposal was made.”
Fadipe further acknowledged that while the plan is understandable, ensuring strict compliance might be difficult due to the realities of the electricity business. “Substantial compliance is however needed in order to ensure the success of the program,” he said.
He also raised questions about the fate of unmetered customers in other bands. “If unmetered customers in Band A can get free meters, the question that begs for answer is: what is the reason behind the exclusion of customers in other Bands? Is it because Band A customers pay a higher tariff? The second question has to do with the fate of fresh Band A customers that have been excluded from the scheme,” he added.
The DISREP metering scheme, with its free prepaid meters and advanced technology, is expected to improve customer confidence in electricity billing and reduce cases of estimated billing in Nigeria’s power sector.
However, concerns remain over the exclusion of other categories of electricity consumers.