FG Begins Distribution of 1.3m Free Metres to Band A Customers
The federal government has begun distribution of 1.3 million new metres to electricity consumers on Band A procured under the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) Metering Scheme.
Customers on other bands would not benefit from the World Bank-funded loan to Nigeria to strengthen the activities in the distribution network of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
A report by Daily Trust indicates that distribution of the DISREP meters has commenced in Jos as revealed by the Jos Electricity Distribution Plc (JED Plc) which said it would be distributing and installing 109,000 prepaid meters free of charge for only customers on Band A feeders across the Company.
JED PLC, in a statement on Tueday, August 19, 2025, 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.
“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 Plc’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 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.”
It urged customers who would benefit from the scheme to visit the nearest JED Plc office after installation to validate their debt profile.
Energy watchers say 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.
