The Prepaid electricity meter is a unit many Nigerians long to have, however only about 45% of consumers have the unit leaving about 55% of customers in the "unmetered" category.
The
Prepaid Energy meter is an electrical /electronic device which is used to
measure the quantity or amount of electrical energy used.
The meter
comes in two forms, the split and the compact.
The
compact means that the keypad which is also known as the customer user
interface (CIU) is fixed in the body of the meter,
While the
split will always come in two units, the main meter unit and the customer
interface unit (CIU) or sometimes referred to as user interface unit (UIU).
Most
utilities prefer the split to be installed for the customers - the reason for
this shall be the subject of discussion for another day.
Both the
federal government and discos have at one time or the other initiated a
metering intervention programs which will see that every customer is given a
prepaid meter,
But these
efforts have in one way or the other hit a dead end as the aim of this metering
intervention programs was not 100% achieved.
Some of
the programs which was initiated by the federal government to tackle the issue
of unmetered customers are NPPMP which was initiated in 2009 and the CAPMI program
which was initiated in 2012.
In 2018,
NERC introduced another meter intervention program called meter asset provider
MAP, where the contractors (MAP) is made to finance the purchase and
installation of the prepaid meter.
Now
before you pay for the prepaid meter, there are processes which should have
been undergone.
After
these processes have successfully been undergone, you will be notified by the
MAP to go and make payment in the bank.
Some
customers make the mistake of going as far as scouting for the MAP’s account
number from any source in order to make payment.
Some customers
also do not adhere to instructions given by the MAP on when to pay and when not
to pay.
Do not
make payment if you have not been cleared by the MAP, else you will placed on an
unending waiting list of which many customers have find themselves and they are
not happy about it.
Now let’s
list the processes. Note that these process may be slightly different from what
is obtainable from some disco’s.
1.
Customer
Enumeration: This process requires the customer to fill the know your customer (KYC)
form.
2.
Depth
Reconciliation: If the customer is owing, he or she is made to discuss and
choose a debt repayment option.
3.
Fill
the MAP Application Form: This process requires the customer to obtain and
complete the MAP application form from the MAP assigned to your area. Normally,
your business unit should tell you the MAP which have been assigned to meter
your area.
4.
Premises Inspection: This process requires that a local electrical
contractor (LECAN) or a COREN registered engineer or technologist have to visit
the customer’s premises for inspection and certification that the customer’s
premises is ready for metering. This electrical personnel will also recommend
the best meter type (single or three phase) to be installed for the customer
5.
Mode
Of Payment: It is required that the customer choose between the two available
mode of payment, Upfront payment (full payment) and amortized payment
(installment payment).
After
the customer’s premises have been inspected, certified ready for meter
installation and mode of payment selected by the customer, then the MAP will
send the customer a notification requesting him or her to go and pay for the
prepaid meter in the MAP’s escrow account.
6.
Meter
Payment: The customer is required to pay for the meter and provide evidence of payment
to the MAP.
7.
Meter
Installation: The MAP installs the meter on the customers premises.
Finally my
recommendation is that you only make payment for the prepaid meter if you have
been cleared by the MAP to do so.
What are use
the comment section to share your experience on payment of the prepaid meter.
Thanks for reading.
