Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has announced the launch of an initiative to distribute free prepaid meters to Band A customers within its franchise area. This effort aims to tackle Nigeria’s ongoing metering gap as part of the Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF) scheme.
A statement released by EKEDC’s General Manager of Corporate Communications confirmed that the distribution is expected to take place over the next 60 days. The initiative involves replacing obsolete meters at no cost for Band A customers and providing free meters to those who are currently unmetered.
The Meter Acquisition Fund scheme is a Federal Government initiative under the Presidential Metering Initiative, targeted at providing meters without charge. It aims to enhance the transition from postpaid to prepaid metering and replace faulty meters, with oversight from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
EKEDC has expressed its commitment to meet the metering needs of eligible customers within the stipulated 60-day timeframe. The company encourages Band A customers with faulty meters to apply for replacements via their website. Additionally, postpaid customers on any Band A feeders are invited to apply for immediate metering.
It is important to note that while the MAF scheme specifically addresses Band A customers at this stage, it does not replace the Meter Asset Provider scheme. The latter allows customers to purchase their meters and receive reimbursements over time. Future tranches of the MAF scheme will expand to other customer categories across the distribution network.
The company praised the Federal Government’s efforts to mitigate the metering shortfall and improve overall power sector performance. Despite various initiatives, the Federal Government continues to face challenges in closing the significant metering gap of approximately 7 million units.
