Ibadan: The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has launched the resumption of its free prepaid metre installation initiative as part of Tranche B of the Metre Acquisition Fund (MAF) and Phase 1 of the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP). These initiatives are designed to address the metering gap within its service area.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Angela Olanrewaju, the Coordinating Head of Corporate Services at IBEDC, announced that 33,450 smart metres will be rolled out under MAF Tranche B, and 22,104 metres will be installed under DISREP Phase 1. The MAF rollout will prioritize unmetered customers on Band A feeders, while DISREP will cater to customers on Bands A and B.
IBEDC has made it clear that both the metres and their installation are completely free, urging customers not to make any payments to installers or staff. Customers are advised to report any requests for money via mafdisrepibedc.com or ethicscomplianceibedc.com.
The MAF scheme is funded by a market-supported mechanism approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to help electricity distribution companies bridge the metering gap nationwide. This scheme complements the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) and runs concurrently with the MAP scheme, although MAF metres are provided at no cost to customers.
IBEDC encourages customers to cooperate with installers by allowing access upon presentation of valid identification. Failure to grant access for metre installation may lead to disconnection as directed by NERC. The company highlights the importance of cooperation to improve service delivery.
Additionally, IBEDC warns against tampering with or bypassing the new metres, as such actions constitute energy theft and carry serious penalties. Customers with outstanding arrears are encouraged to visit the nearest IBEDC office for resolution to ensure a smooth transition to prepaid metering. The company assures that outstanding bills will not disqualify any customer from receiving a free metre, as arrears will be managed according to the company’s debt settlement policy and procedures.