The New Phcn Prepaid Meters

There are 2 versions of the new PHCN prepaid meters that I have seen so far.

There's the chip type that is just similar to those old NITEL card phones. However, you do not dispose of your card when you're out of units. You take the chip card back to PHCN to be recharged and then slot the card into the meter. This type is what is in place in Magodo GRA, Lagos.

Then there is the second type that has numeric buttons just like your phone and electricity units are purchased just like you buy recharge cards for your phone, then you recharge by keying the recharge PIN in. When you run out of units, you buy another recharge just like GSM. This is the type that is being installed in most parts of Lekki. They just forcefully installed one in my house. I wanted the other type because it more easily riggable. LOL.

By the way, the meters indicate units of kWh (kilowatt hours) and 1kWh cost N6. So don't expect to recharge with N10,000 and expect to see N10,000 like on your GSM phone. What you'll have is 1,666.6 kWh.
(ie 10,000/6)

Then again you know you'll need to cut some unnecessary electricity expenditure. The single most effective way to do this is by replacing all the traditional yellow light bulbs in your house with those white spiral flourescent bulb. That cuts your electricity expenditure on lighting to 10%. The reason for this is that yellow bulbs along with light, produce a lot of heat. (that's why they're used in poultry to keep birds warm). These new white flourescent bulbs produce almost no heat. Unless you're in a cold area like JOS.

So let me know what other locations they've installed the meters and do you prefer them or you just want you good ol' black box back.