Eko Electricity Begins Free Prepaid Meter Rollout for Band A Customers
The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has begun distributing free prepaid meters to Band A customers within its coverage area, as part of a nationwide push to close Nigeria’s chronic metering gap.
The initiative falls under the Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF) scheme, a Federal Government-backed programme designed to provide free meters to high-priority customers while replacing obsolete and faulty units.
“In its continuous effort to bridge the metering gap, Eko Electricity Distribution Company has commenced the distribution of free prepaid meters to Band A customers within its franchise area under the Meter Acquisition Fund scheme,” EKEDC’s General Manager of Corporate Communications, Babatunde Lasaki, said in a statement on Monday.
The rollout, expected to last 60 days, will see unmetered Band A customers receive free meters, while outdated and malfunctioning meters will be replaced at no cost.
A Federal Push to End Estimated Billing
The MAF scheme forms part of the Presidential Metering Initiative, a broader effort to accelerate the transition from postpaid to prepaid metering and eliminate estimated billing, a long-standing issue in Nigeria’s power sector. The initiative is overseen by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), ensuring compliance and transparency in the process.
Lasaki reaffirmed EKEDC’s commitment to meeting the 60-day deadline, urging eligible customers to apply for replacements via the company’s website.
“We encourage all our Band A customers with obsolete and faulty meters to proceed to our website to apply for a replacement at no cost. If you are a postpaid customer under any of our Band A feeders, please apply, and we will meter you immediately,” he said.
He also clarified that while the MAF scheme is currently focused on Band A customers—those who receive the most reliable electricity supply—future phases would extend to other customer categories.
“The MAF scheme isn’t only for Band A customers, however, this is the first tranche of the intervention and is solely for Band A customers. Other tranches will commence soon, which will cut across our customer base,” he added.
Challenges in Closing Nigeria’s 7 Million Metering Gap
Despite successive government interventions, Nigeria continues to struggle with a metering shortfall, with an estimated seven million electricity consumers still unmetered.
While the MAF scheme runs alongside the existing Meter Asset Provider (MAP) framework—where customers can purchase meters and receive a reimbursement over time—many still face long waiting periods or inflated costs.
The Federal Government has repeatedly pledged to address this issue, with power sector reforms aiming to improve efficiency and accountability. However, whether the latest intervention will finally close the metering gap remains to be seen.
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