Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc (EEDC) has commenced the second phase of its free prepaid meter rollout under “Tranche B” of the Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF) metering programme.
The initiative, instituted by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), aims to bridge the metering gap in the power sector and eliminate estimated billing.
EEDC’s Group Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Enugu.
According to him, the Tranche B phase targets unmetered customers on service Band “A” feeders across the South-East region.
Ezeh revealed that a total of 13,335 customers of EEDC, including those of its subsidiaries, will benefit from this phase, which commenced on November 2, 2025, with a Know Your Customer (KYC) validation exercise.
He emphasized that the prepaid meters and their installations are completely free, being funded through the Meter Acquisition Fund.
“These meters and their installation are free. Customers are cautioned against making any payment to meter installers or succumbing to any form of inducement or extortion,” he said.
Ezeh added that the exercise aligns with EEDC’s commitment to service transparency and customer satisfaction.
He urged customers under Band “A” feeders to verify and update their contact details by visiting their nearest EEDC Customer Service Unit, noting that the company’s teams would contact eligible customers using the information provided in their profiles.
Ezeh recalled that earlier in the year, EEDC successfully completed Tranche A of the MAF metering programme, during which 13,614 Band “A” customers were metered.
He assured customers that once all Band “A” customers are covered, attention will shift to those under Band “B” as part of efforts to systematically close the metering gap across the network.
Ezeh also appealed for patience from customers not captured in the current phase, explaining that another metering initiative — the Distribution Sector Recovery Project (DISREP) — is forthcoming.
He warned customers against bypassing the new prepaid meters, stressing that such actions amount to energy theft and undermine the objectives of the programme.
“Customers should avoid meter bypass, energy theft, and other illegal activities. They are encouraged to report anyone engaging in such acts,” he cautioned.
The Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF) is a pool of funds contributed by all electricity distribution companies in Nigeria for the procurement of prepaid meters, which are provided to customers at no cost. The programme is jointly supervised by a fund manager and the NERC.
