The federal government has begun the distribution of new meters for Band A customers.

The meters which were procured under the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) Metering Scheme will see 1.3 million meters distributed to the customers leaving out customers on other bands.

Daily Trust reports that DISREP is a World Bank funded loan to Nigeria to strengthen the activities in the distribution network of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

Confirming the commencement of the programme in a statement yesterday, the Jos Electricity Distribution Plc (JED Plc) said it would be distributing and installing 109,000 prepaid meters free of charge for only customers on Band A feeders across the Company.

The statement said the metering scheme aimed at improving service delivery and bridging the metering gap in its franchise areas of Bauchi, Benue, Gombe and Plateau States, with a pilot phase in Plateau State.

It added that the exercise will focus strictly on providing meters for existing unmetered customers and replacing faulty meters only on Band A Feeders.

“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.”

It emphasizes that the DISREP meters are completely free and advised customers not to make any payment to staff or agents for meters or installations.

“Any customer who makes such payments does so at their own risk, as the company will not be liable for any loss incurred. Fraud-related complaints should be reported, with evidence to our communication channels.”

“The new prepaid meters feature advanced technology to enhance efficiency, security, and transparency. These 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.”

It added that it contains tamper and bypass detection, with instant notifications sent to JED Plc for any interference.

It urged customers who would benefit from the scheme to visit the nearest JED Plc office after installation to validate their debt profile.

Second Band A free metering in one year

This will be the second free metering scheme introduced for Band A customers since the removal of subsidy for the band in April 2024.

The previous scheme introduced a few months after the subsidy removal and tariff hike for the band was the Meters Acquisition Fund (MAF) which is from deduction from the revenue from electricity Distribution Companies.

According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC), 41,855 meters have been installed from the first tranche of the MAF with N21bn obtained from the fund.

Speaking with Daily Trust, CEO at Sage Consulting & Communications, Barr. Bode Fadipe, said an advertorial for the meters said unequivocally that the metering scheme under the DISREP programme is for Band A alone, adding that new connections must go through the MAP route.

“The implications are quite clear. First is that under the DISREP, end users in other Bands – B-D will not benefit from it. There is therefore a delineation. The target figure is 109,000 customers who may have been prelisted when the proposal was made.

“This is understandable but may not be adhered to 100% because of the dynamics of business. Substantial compliance is however needed in order to ensure the success of the program.”

He, however, said it is important to find out what the plan is for the unmetered end users in other Bands.

“If unmetered customers in Band A can get free meters, the question that begs for answer is: what is the reason behind the exclusion of customers in other Bands? Is it because Band A customers pay a higher tariff? The second question has to do with the fate of fresh Band A customers that have been excluded from the scheme.”