The "Free" Prepaid Metering Exercise and It's Impact On Nigerians So Far!

Introduction:
The National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) exercise of the Federal Government to provide Prepaid Meter (PPM) to Nigerians is still on going and the first phase of the exercise may come to a cessation in July. This is in order to access the impact of the exercise so far. However resumption will be effected without any delay. For those who their PPM has been processed, supplied and installed, you can imagine their joy as they can confidently say good bye to estimated billing.
What is expected of the DISC0S
The (Discos) are expected to roll out six (6) million "free" meters over the next 18-36 months to Customers. To achieve this, the few registered Meter Asset Providers (MAP)s are working tirelessly to ensure everyone is metered accordingly. The Meter Asset Providers (MAP) are the ones used now for electricity consumers. The MAP scheme was introduced by Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to allow easy procurement of Prepaid Meters.
Some Registered MAP names are
Mojec International Limited;
Turbo Energy Limited;
Hendricks International Limited;
CIG Metering Assets Nigeria. And others.
You can contact any of the above mentioned MAPS for your PPM.
There are cases of customers who want (PPM) but have not been able to get one. Also most customers who had applied and paid for more than 4-5 months are yet to receive their meters, and this is worrisome.
WHAT YOU MUST KNOW
The Discos are mostly interested in those customers with accumulated bills. Because they are factoring the accumulated bills on the PPM upon installation. Therefore those who have been diligent in paying their huge estimated bills in the past, are sorted through the field survey initiated by the MAP Companies, and are metered immediately. The approach here is that since this customers can pay for huge estimated bills for unused electricity, they should apply for the PPM via MAP to end the era of estimated billing.
I have heard cases where customers were complaining of their unit running out quickly than expected. The reason for this, is now fully understood. Although home appliances like AC, Pumping Machine, Electric Cooker, Fridge are quick energy consumption gadgets and their usage should be economically regulated.
Secondly the Discos are more interested on bulk application order of customers with accumulated huge estimated bills on their records because this is one way to guarantee steady revenue to the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). Hence anytime there is huge order of meter by any MAP Company to Discos, there is immediate release of the meters because it's to their interest. Single applications may take longer time to process. To apply for the prepaid meter(PPM), customers should complete the prepaid meter order form at https://www.ekedp.com
THE CHALLENGE SO FAR
One major challenge of this exercise is the delay caused by the Discos in registering the (PPM) for recharging. It's obvious that most (PPM) take a week or more after installation before customers can carry out their first recharge, which ought not to be.
The reasons for this may be due to the long queue of PPM that are being registered on a daily basis. Also the lack of manpower and inefficiency of the average Nigerian worker has worsened the matter.
Some customers have suggested that the PPM should be dully registered and ready for recharging before they are installed or disconnected from their estimated billing. This suggestion is fine; however to avoid electricity theft, several installation process has to be captured by a registered PPM installer under a MAP. The information required by MAP to ensure installation is complete are:
1. Picture of PPM Seal
2. Installation Seal
3. Supply Cable Visible
4. Cable to Premises
5. Before covering the meter Box
6. Proposed Meter Point
7. Retrieved Meter, etc.

All this information must be submitted to Discos before any PPM is dully registered for recharging. This also explains the reason for the 20-40 free unit always available in the (PPM).
Before this unit is exhausted, and depending on the rate of customer unit consumption, the PPM must have been registered for recharging. Nevertheless, if your (PPM) has been installed for more than a week and you are out of unit, send a mail to customercare@ekedp.com and if no reply, please resend reminder, and your case will be attended to speedily.
In summary, every Nigerian that consumes electricity is eligible for metering, this is to avoid suffering from estimated billing. You should know that when National Electricity Grid collapses, the customers who do not have PPM suffer the most. While those who have PPM cannot be billed for the period of when electricity was not supplied. The unmetered customers continue to get huge estimated bills during this period.
Also, customers have to be fully informed that 5-10 or more of them can group together to apply for their PPM, most especially if they are living together in an estate. This will ensure speedy processing. Customers should also note that their huge estimated bills are factored into their billing plans once metered and recharging commences. From the words of Ogochukwu Okeke a Law Student/Energy and Environment of UI, she opined that the Discos should ensure that there is proper consumer education about the disbursement of meters and eventual payment via service metering charges or higher electricity bill. Because the average Nigerian does not understand that there is an eventual cost to the "free" meters and this could be detrimental to recouping the loan costs of the Discos and the Local meter Manufacturers.
Thank you for reading, and please endeavor to share this information to others if it has been helpful.
For Further questions and clarification, please send mail to engineer Isaac on spidercreations84@gmail.com

NEPA officials collected 2k per meter here in Ondo. In our house we requested for 5 meters, they collected 10k since last month, yet they have not seen the meters

Nigerians are bypassing it.

Why not visit their office to lodge your complain. The queue is actually long.

Redomi:
NEPA officials collected 2k per meter here in Ondo. In our house we requested for 5 meters, they collected 10k since last month, yet they have not seen the meters

These PHCN guys have started acting funny in my area. Who knows how I can get the ppm and get my peace from their wahala.

Light dem no bring except 5 days to bill collection date and 3 days thereafter, the whole thing is gone until the next month.