FG Rolls Out 1.3 Million Free Prepaid Meters for Band A Customers, Warns Against Fraud
- The Nigerian government has begun free distribution of prepaid meters to Band customers to deepen electricity access
- The metres, which were acquired under the DISREP metering scheme, will be distributed to 1.3 million customers
- The scheme is a World Bank-financed programme and aims at eliminating estimated billing and providing accurate data for billing
Legit.ng’s Pascal Oparada has reported on tech, energy, stocks, investment and the economy for over a decade.
The Nigerian government has commenced the distribution of new metres to Band A customers.
The metres, which were purchased under the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) Metering Scheme, will be distributed to about 1.3 million Band A customers, excluding consumers in lower bands.
Source: Getty Images
109,000 metres to be distributed to customers
According to reports, the DISREP scheme is a World Bank-funded initiative, which was secured under a loan to boost activities in the distribution network of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
Jos Electricity Distribution Plc confirmed this in a statement on Monday, August 20, 2025, saying that it would share and install 109,000 prepared metres for free to customers on Band A feeders across the network.
According to the statement, the scheme aims at boosting service delivery and closing the metering gap in its franchise areas, including Bauchi, Benue, Gombe, and Plateau states, with a pilot programme in Plateau state.
The company further disclosed that the exercise will focus on providing meters for existing unmetered customers and replacing faulty meters only on Band A feeders.
No payment required
“The scheme will not cover new connections as all new connections must apply via the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) Scheme and no direct connection on Band A feeders will be allowed,” the statement read.
A Daily Trust report revealed that the DISREP metres are free, asking customers not to pay any staff or agents for metres or installations.
It warned that any customer who makes such payments does so at their own risk, as the firm will not be liable for any incurred loss, asking customers to lodge fraud-related complaints with evidence to the appropriate channels.
Features of the new metres
The company disclosed the features of the new metres to include:
- Automated token uploads: Eliminating the need for manual entry via the User Interface Unit (UIU)
- Geo-lock functionality: Ensuring meters only operate at the assigned GPS location in JED Pic’s database
- Seamless meter capturing: Real-time consumption monitoring, with alerts sent to JED Plc when tokens are exhausted or in cases of prolonged non-purchase.
The Jos DisCo added that the metre contains tamper and bypass detection, with instant notification to the company, notifying it of any interference.
The electricity company asked beneficiaries to visit its nearest office after installation to validate their debt profile.
Source: UGC
The reports said this will be the second free metering scheme introduced for Band A customers since the subsidy removal in April 2023.
NERC provides data on installed metres
The previous scheme, which was introduced shortly after subsidy removal and tariff hike for the band, was under the Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF), and was from the deduction from the revenue from DisCos.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) said that about 41,855 meters have been installed from the first tranche of the MAF, with N21 billion obtained from the fund.
Aba Power commences distribution, installation
Amid the free metre distribution, another electricity distribution company, Aba Power, also announced that it began the rollout of the second phase of its prepaid meter installation scheme.
The power utility company resumed operations with 20,000 smart meters provided by Eves Metering of China, which will be fully installed within one month at a cost of approximately N3.5 billion.
Aba Power plans 20,000 free prepaid meter rollout
However, the firm said it is not providing meters simultaneously to all its coverage areas.
According to Aba Power’s Brand and Communication Senior Manager, Edise Ekong, the rollout is going to be feeder by feeder.
Ekong stated that the company is currently providing free smart meters to only customers under the Aba-Owerri Expressway 33kV feeder.
List of states ready to start generating power
Legit.ng earlier reported that following the over 200 per cent increase in the electricity tariff approved by the federal government through the National Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC), some states in Nigeria have expressed their readiness to start generating power for their people.
President Bola Tinubu signed the new Electricity Act into law in June 2023 following calls from Nigerians that the power sector be reformed and removed from the federal government's exclusive list.
The new law empowered states to generate, transmit, and distribute power within their boundaries.
Source: Legit.ng
