EKEDC urges customers to access free prepaid meters under presidential initiative

The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has urged customers within its network to take advantage of the ongoing free prepaid meter rollout under the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI).

The initiative, funded through the Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF) Tranche B, aims to close the metering gap across EKEDC’s franchise area and ensure transparency in electricity billing.

Mrs Rekhiat Momoh, Acting Chief Executive Officer of EKEDC, made the appeal during a customer engagement forum held on Thursday at the Lekki Business Unit in Lagos.

The Lekki Business District covers areas including Ikota, Oke Ira, Addo, Badore, Ajah, Ilaje, Ikeja Mobil, Ogombo, Thomas Estate, Abraham Adesanya, and Lekki Scheme 2.

Our correspondent reports that the MAF serves as a major funding mechanism under the PMI, approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

Momoh, represented by the Chief Commercial Officer, Mr Samuel Edoho, said that under the current phase, Band A and Band B customers would receive prepaid meters at no cost.

She said the programme aligns with the Federal Government’s goal of promoting transparency, ending estimated billing, and improving consumer confidence in the power sector.

“This forum provides a vital platform for open dialogue between management and customers to address concerns on electricity distribution and service delivery,” Momoh said.

She added that eligible customers could apply through the Eko DisCo online portal for meter allocation.

“New customers should visit the new connection section, while existing customers migrating from postpaid to prepaid can log into their accounts,” she said.

According to her, the application window will remain open from Nov. 6 to Dec. 31, and participation is entirely free.

Momoh disclosed that EKEDC had completed installations under Tranche A and that Tranche B officially commenced this week.

“We have installed over 15,000 free prepaid meters under Tranche A and have metered more than 450,000 customers across our network,” she said.

She stressed that customers are not required to pay any fee for the processing or installation of electricity meters.

She added: “We have consistently warned customers not to make payments to installers.

“Meters and their installation are completely free under government-approved programmes such as the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) and the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme.”

Momoh warned against fraudulent practices, revealing that some individuals had been collecting money from unsuspecting customers for prepaid meters already covered by the initiative.

“As long as the meters are distributed within EKEDC’s network, installation remains free because vendors have been fully compensated,” she explained.

On the issue of meter bypassing, Momoh cautioned that such acts are illegal and punishable under the Electricity Act 2023 and NERC regulations.

“Bypassing or tampering with meters attracts severe penalties, including fines, imprisonment, and payment for stolen energy,” she warned.

She further noted that meter tampering could cause electrical fires, equipment damage, or fatal electric shocks.

“Energy theft leads to revenue loss for DisCos and undermines service quality for all customers,” she added.

Momoh urged customers to adopt prepaid meters and avoid illegal practices linked to estimated billing disputes.

“We encourage customers to report cases of energy theft or meter bypass through our whistleblowing channels,” she said.

She reaffirmed EKEDC’s commitment to strict monitoring and enforcement, assuring that offenders would face the full weight of the law.

A community leader, Mr Ifeanyi Inuoha, praised EKEDC for hosting the forum, describing it as a “customer-centric initiative” addressing residents’ power challenges.

He urged the company to ensure that resolutions from the meeting are implemented to build trust and strengthen customer relations.

Inuoha pledged to mobilise residents to protect EKEDC’s assets and report electricity theft within their communities.

“We will continue to support EKEDC by monitoring equipment and exposing those involved in meter bypassing.

“Our communities regularly collaborate with law enforcement to prevent electricity theft, vandalism, and transformer damage,” he said.

He called on residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities around electrical installations.

“Security is everyone’s responsibility. Reporting incidents helps protect our communities and ensures steady power supply,” he said.