₦airaland Forum

Padipadi:
Never try such again. EDCs are very angry right now because of bad sales. The outfit may soon pack off because FG isn't serious about power sector and people are now into renewable energy. See every house with solar panels. So you will be milked as deterrent to other bypassers. You go pay regular bill of N451K and still carry the stigma of light tiff for a long time. Solution is to go and pay that bill or get solar. That building has been marked as scapegoat

You would be shocked to discover the rate of prepaid meter bypass or tampering in Nigeria! The fellow bypassers are the ones who will stigmatise him? Lol

maasoap:
Can you share a little tip here. Like the minimum cost for just the fridge, fans and bulbs. What about pressing iron use?

I did my own by myself early last year after learning it through internet.
The cost of the items needed is always increasing astronomically and I don't know why. I have been checking for prices because I want to upgrade my own for borehole pump machine use.
But for just fridge, fans and bulbs,
I think 1000 watt inverter, 100 ah battery, 400 watt solar panel and any least charger controller will do.
If you want to do it now yourself, comfortably you may need like 700k.
But if you want expert to do it for you they may charge you 1.5 million upwards, depends
If you want to do it yourself self

Update147:
Just be careful so you don't get your self in court with the government.

Some very irrelevant issues carries grievous consequences in the eyes of the law.

That's why I advised him to resolve the issue quietly and pay up if he can. If he can't, he should try to negotiate and get it reduced. If he can't do that too, he should look for alternative, solar energy

kuntash:
how?

you are even lucky, you can be taken to court for that, and it may be difficult for you to win it.

Here is my advise to you. Take down that evidence picture, if you can kill the thread and sort it out with the officials and appeal to pay part of it or plan to be paying along with your bills.

Yes! economy is tough and the electricity body arent doing well, worse of it with corruption glaring at many daily. Please DO NOT YIELD to the temptation. Its a shameful act.
I just hope you understand.

You actually made a lot of sense. But that part, ehn! It is currently now 1k for 3.3 units in band A category, the temptation is at all times high now

Hellisreal70:
I did my own by myself early last year after learning it through internet.
The cost of the items needed is always increasing astronomically and I don't know why. I have been checking for prices because I want to upgrade my own for borehole pump machine use.
But for just fridge, fans and bulbs,
I think 1000 watt inverter, 100 ah battery, 400 watt solar panel and any least charger controller will do.
If you want to do it now yourself, comfortably you may need like 700k.
But if you want expert to do it for you they may charge you 1.5 million upwards, depends
If you want to do it yourself self

No be joke. Thanks a lot

asapeola:
Abeg, what is a "meter provider official?" Do you know what the Nigerian Metering Code says about access to meter inspection and ownership? You are here advising a customer not to allow a uniformed staff of a Disco from accessing the meter. That is ignorance in full display. You are liable to be disconnected from supply if anyone hinders an identified staff from doing their job.

@OP, the issue here is not only the allegation of tampering but also a case of "overdraft" or negative reading. From the document issued to you, the officer is also stating that your meter read about 690units in the negative, meaning you were enjoying supply even after the last unit u vended ran out. In this case, the meter was supposed to cut supply but it did not maybe due to faulty relay or something else.

I don't know why the meter was removed and given to you but I would advise u to go their office as directed and request they show you the tampering in clear terms. You may record the exercise incase of further dispute. Also ask for confirmation of the negative units already consumed cos obviously you have not vended in a while which may have flagged your account.

Summarily, tampering is now a serious offence under the new electricity act so be careful make dem no use u shine.

Shalom.

Your post is the first detailed analysis of what happened and why DISCO officials did what they did. I have seen cases of overdraft with no allegation of tampering. They just asked them to pay the overdraft and replaced the meter for them.
But Op was enjoying free energy without recharging for years, he didn't know that his meter was reading in negative instead of cutting power supply off . The only issue here is if tampering was actually involved or just overdraft caused by meter malfunction.
And of course, I have seen meter tampering that resulted in negative reading, aka overdraft

cyberguy72:
what load can this set up power?

With 24 hour usage it should be able to deliver consistently 2KW of power. For reference, a medium sized home generator produces about 2KW~3KW of power and those are usually enough to power a standard flat with a small air conditioner. Of course, the good thing is that it's always possible and much easier to optimize power usage, by getting a larger inverter(like 5KW or so) it's quite possible to remove much of the load limitations, also switching off appliances that are not in use will always help.

maasoap:
Hmmm! Imagine like eight houses using a single direct connection (no meter) and paying like 5k or 7k monthly! When some of us are buying 3.3 units with N1000 just because we're in band A category! Band A with no light for over 24 hours straight, regularly, every alternate days.

lol I have 5 phase... All the nearby streets around me I'm using their phase, all I need is tiny telephone wire , the deal is done.... If I no get light just no light no dey the entire city . Even your generator I pass my neighbour no dey safe for my side. Be like say person swear for me with this because I starting tapology from the age of 10... This is my own way of taking my own national cake 😉

MaziObinnaokija:
Nah where u live/state pls

you won track me 😉😉😉😉 e no go work

smogicesamson:
Even if he applies for a new meter, he will meet the outstanding fine there, in which a certain amount will be deducted for every recharge, and he will have a certain amount he can recharge so the percetage can be deducted, the best thing is to avoid this by pass because the outcome is complicated, i know many compounds in by area caught up in this mess, till date all they now do is by pass at midnight only was its 5am they remove it, just because the fine on them is just too much to pay up

Yes...

The LOR will be migrated into his CIS.

As long as his meter(New/Old) is connected to his CIS, he'll always carry the the debt

He'll be applying for a new meter because the meter's integrity may have been compromised during the bypass.

vikgreen01:
Like I'm going to pay through my nose...

See that’s why you shouldn’t pay. Paying that fee solidifies their position and it will look like you knew about it. Get a pro bono lawyer and fight that fee

vikgreen01:
Like I rightly said early on, I wasn't aware. It was the official who brought the meter also happens to bring the technician that install the meter for me. While I also noticed the meter not triggering off after a month it was installed I ran to him to complain and he told me probably the free unit that do come with new meter are still on it. Not long to that, while the meter hasn't trigger off, I recharge on the meter, it was then I noticed the meter was reading a negative value. I ran to him to still complain which he never heed to my complaint and I eventually got bursted by a meter monitoring team....
He got involved and he clearly told me he won't want a meter issue to take his job from him yet he's not giving a possible solution....

Do you records of the time you reached out to him about the meter not triggering off and reading negative value, and do you have records of his responses?

Do you also have records of him saying he doesn't want this meter issue to take his job?

If indeed you are innocent, you should stand your ground and get the guy arrested ASAP. Blow the issue out of proportion and they (his colleagues) will give you a soft landing

odimbannamdi:
Do you records of the time you reached out to him about the meter not triggering off and reading negative value, and do you have records of his responses?

Do you also have records of him saying he doesn't want this meter issue to take his job?

If indeed you are innocent, you should stand your ground and get the guy arrested ASAP. Blow the issue out of proportion and they (his colleagues) will give you a soft landing

Unfortunately, I do not have records of our discussion but he cannot deny me not coming to him. He's one of our respected family friend for over 20 years. I have called my parents to call him which he has also reached out to me to come for another proper discussion. Sincerely, I wouldn't want him to lose his job, he was a man who rose from grass to grace. He was a mere street technician bfr he got favoured from a past governor who saw his work, liked it and slotted him in into the job. I just don't know why he choose to be treating a close associate this way. The first single phase meter he got for me was also a defective one, during those period of meter upgrade, it was when I wanted to upgrade the meter I discovered it has enter tamper code. I took it to their office and I was told to go get a new one as the meter has totally damaged, it was just displaying meter user doesn't exit when a check was run on it. I went to meet this same man, paid him to get a 1 phase meter even collected more than the amount for a meter then and he still did this to me....

Hammylawali:
See that’s why you shouldn’t pay. Paying that fee solidifies their position and it will look like you knew about it. Get a pro bono lawyer and fight that fee

Thank you 😥

vikgreen01:
I provided them the receipts for all my vending payment which I made when I noticed the meter didn't trigger off which I also reported to the official that brought the meter. The official was called and he even pleaded with them...

That is not the answer sir/ma. Be honest with yourself, when was the last time you vended on that meter? If you are truthful, we might be able to help you.

asapeola:
That is not the answer sir/ma. Be honest with yourself, when was the last time you vended on that meter? If you are truthful, we might be able to help you.

The last time I vended on the meter was 15th, Nov 2024 and i was booked by the monitoring team onth 27th, Nov 2024

vikgreen01:
They removed it, handed it over to me and ask me to bring it to the office.

Good. You have to clear it with them.

Love800:
Is it those plastic black stuff or ceramic stuff that has fuse in them, that is called phase?
They are usually three or two in number, hanging up, close to the meter?

phases are defined by the meter configuration, but those ceramic stuff shows how many phases you have.

Thanks so much

Caseless:
phases are defined by the meter configuration, but those ceramic stuff shows how many phases you have.

twosquare:
You are still in early 2000s....It does not cost up to that. In fact, certain packages are not even up to a million.

Hi. Please, help me. I stay in a rented apartment and all 6 tenants are forced to share one prepaid meter. We pay close to 60k a month on prepaid. At present, I have only 1 fan, 3 white bulbs, 2 smart phones and 1 torchlight phone. Which solar option should I go for and how much? I want to directly consume what I use

newcommer:
Hi. Please, help me. I stay in a rented apartment and all 6 tenants are forced to share one prepaid meter. We pay close to 60k a month on prepaid. At present, I have only 1 fan, 3 white bulbs, 2 smart phones and 1 torchlight phone. Which solar option should I go for and how much? I want to directly consume what I use

There are many options in the market now. Your consumption is low. Hence, I believe the itel power tank is okay for you. Just get a good solar panel like Jinko to charge it. Just ensure the solar panel watt is far above the solar tank.

Thank you.

twosquare:
There are many options in the market now. Your consumption is low. Hence, I believe the itel power tank is okay for you. Just get a good solar panel like Jinko to charge it. Just ensure the solar panel watt is far above the solar tank.