After months of public complaints over estimated billing and malfunctioning meters, the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has announced the resumption of free prepaid meter installations for its customers.
The rollout will begin in the coming days under Tranche B of the Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF) and Phase 1 of the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP), two national initiatives designed to reduce Nigeria’s metering gap.
In a statement signed by Angela Olanrewaju, IBEDC’s Coordinating Head of Corporate Services, the company said 33,450 smart meters will be deployed under MAF Tranche B, while 22,104 additional meters will be installed under DISREP Phase 1.
MAF installation will prioritise unmetered customers on Band A feeders, while DISREP will cover Bands A and B.
Olanrewaju emphasised that both the meters and the installation process are completely free, warning customers not to pay installers or any IBEDC staff.
“The meters are completely free, and installation is also free. Customers must not make any form of payment to anyone. Anyone requesting money should be reported via maf_disrep@ibedc.com
or ethicscompliance@ibedc.com,” she said.
IBEDC explained that the MAF is funded by the company through a market-supported mechanism created by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to help distribution companies close the nationwide metering gap. The scheme complements the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) and runs alongside the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) programme — but unlike MAP, MAF meters are provided at zero cost to customers.
The utility firm urged customers to allow installers access to their premises once they present valid identification, warning that denial of access may lead to disconnection.
Olanrewaju also cautioned against tampering with or bypassing the new meters, describing such acts as energy theft that attract severe penalties.
While customers with outstanding arrears are advised to visit the nearest IBEDC office for resolution to ensure a smooth transition to prepaid billing, the company clarified that no one will be disqualified from receiving a free meter because of unpaid bills.
“No customer will be denied a meter on account of outstanding bills. Arrears will be managed in line with the company’s debt settlement policy and established procedures,” the statement added.
