NERC restates directive to power consumers on prepayment meters upgrade

*The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission urges power consumers to contact their Distribution Companies for more information to update their prepayment electricity meters by November 2024, as such upgrade will neither affect the units in the consumers’ meters nor make the meters run faster than usual

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

For fear they may not be able to recharge their meters, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has urged power consumers to update their prepayment electricity meters by November 2024.

The power regulatory Commission, in a statement issued Wednesday, August 23, 2023, disclosed that such update would neither affect the units in the consumer’s meter nor make the meter run faster than normal.

The Commission also stated that the update is easy and free, urging electricity consumers to reach out to their electricity Distribution Company (DisCo) for more information.

The NERC further explained that the upgrade exercise is in alignment with the plan by the majority of DisCos to phase out the global Token Identifier (TID) for the prepayment meters currently in use across Nigeria.

The power regulator said: “From November 2024, you may not be able to recharge your meter.”

While stating the update is  easy and free, NERC noted: “DisCos shall commence issuance of 2 free Key Change Tokens (KCTs) which will update your meter.

“If you have a prepaid meter, it may be time for an update.”