Change your prepaid meter and buy electricity online

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The National Electric Power Authority, better known by its acronym, NEPA, transformed into the Power holding company of Nigeria (PHCN) before the separation of functions of the company into Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution.

The Nigerian Electricity RegulatoryCcommission (NERC) appointed 11 Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos), the coverage areas of the 11 companies are listed here

When the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) changed to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), postpaid meters were replaced with prepaid meters.

The prepaid meters were the key meter types that use a special electronic key which has your tariff information on it. Most of the PHNC customers that got a prepaid meter were given the key meter types.

But since the emergence of the DISCOs, they have replaced the key meters, customers are still able to buy electricity on the old PHCN meter but only in designated places.

How a key meter works

Key meters work in similar ways to smart card meters - you top up a plastic card and when you put the card into your meter, the credit is transferred to the meter. There is a physical communication between the meter and the plastic card. The information exchange is not carried out remotely.

The disadvantage of PHCN Meter

With the Key meter types, it is almost impossible to recharge online because of the way the key meter works.

To buy electricity you will have to take your card to any Ikeja electric or PHCN office to recharge, once you have made payment, the credit is loaded on your card which you will have to insert into your meter for your electricity to come up.

Unfortunately, the vendors and store that sell the electricity do not work during weekends, considering the fact that your electricity can go off at any time of the day, you will not be able to buy electricity and hence you will be in darkness except you run an alternative source of energy. 

Buying electricity on the old PHCN prepaid meter require customers to physically move from one point to another. This could be considered a waste of time since some customers are able to buy electricity online  So it is advisable as old PHCN customer to pay for the new meters made available by the METER ASSET PROVIDERS. The meters are more advanced and can be accessed online.

How to change your PHCN prepaid meter

To switch to the new MAP (Meter Asset Provider) prepaid meter and be able to buy electricity online, go to the website map.ikejaelectric.com and register.

There are the options of outright payment or part payment. Changing your PHNC prepaid meter will not only save you the stress of buying electricity with ease but will also allow you to use Ikeja electric payment platform like comparelight.

Meter paid for outrightly usually takes about 10 working days for it to be installed according to Ikeja electric. The MAP platform is now opened on 13th May 2019.

Once your meter is issued and activated, with your meter number you can go to comparelight.com key in your meter number and indicated the amount you wish to recharge. When your payment is confirmed, value for the amount you indicated will be sent to your email, phone number as a text and also displayed on the screen for you to copy.

If you need help with any of the processes please do not hesitate to contact us at info@comparelight.com