You've been paying estimated bills for months with no meter in sight, while your neighbor down the street just got one installed for nothing. The free meter scheme is real and currently active in 2026, but it only works if you apply through the right channel and understand which scheme you actually qualify for. This guide walks you through both options and exactly how to apply.

Quick Answer

There are two ways to get a prepaid meter: the free government scheme (NMMP/DISREP), which costs nothing but can take months due to a waitlist, and the MAP scheme, where you pay upfront or in installments but get metered within weeks. To apply for the free option, register on your DISCO's customer portal, complete your KYC with your NIN and a valid ID, and wait for an SMS when a meter becomes available for your area. You should never pay anyone cash for a meter under the free scheme.

Free Meter (NMMP/DISREP) vs Paid Meter (MAP) — What's the Difference

NMMP / DISREP (Free Scheme) MAP (Meter Asset Provider)
Cost to you Free You pay upfront, or in monthly installments called the Meter Service Charge (MSC)
Funded by Federal Government, World Bank (DISREP) Private meter manufacturers/providers partnered with your DISCO
Speed Can take several months; you're placed on a waitlist Typically a few weeks once payment clears
Who it suits Unmetered customers willing to wait, especially those prioritized under current funding tranches Anyone who wants to skip the waitlist and is able to pay
Refund if you already paid Not applicable NERC mandates a refund via energy credits over time if you paid under MAP

Who Qualifies for a Free Meter Right Now

The free scheme currently running is funded through the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP), a roughly $500 million World Bank-backed initiative targeting 3.4 million smart meters nationwide, alongside the Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF) Tranche B, for which the Federal Government approved ₦28 billion to DISCOs for procurement. In practice, this means:

  • You must currently be unmetered or on estimated billing — metered customers aren't eligible for a free replacement under this scheme.
  • Some DISCOs are prioritizing specific tariff bands first. For example, EkoDisco has stated that Band A and B customers are eligible to apply under MAF Tranche B in their franchise area.
  • Allocation happens DISCO by DISCO and even business-unit by business-unit, so your neighbor getting metered first doesn't necessarily mean you've been skipped — it usually means your specific area's batch hasn't arrived yet.
  • The Minister of Power has personally directed some DISCOs, including IBEDC, to speed up rollout of specific allocations (59,000 meters in IBEDC's case), so pressure on DISCOs to move faster is active and ongoing.
  • The broader metering gap NERC is working against is around 5.9 to 6.5 million unmetered customers nationwide, so even with millions of meters being procured, demand still outpaces supply in most franchise areas — this is the main reason waitlists exist at all rather than a sign that your application was lost.

Documents You Need Before You Apply

Have these ready, whether you're applying online or at a DISCO office:

  • National Identification Number (NIN)
  • A valid means of identification — national ID card, voter's card, international passport, or driver's license
  • Proof of address — a recent utility bill, tenancy agreement, or similar document
  • Your existing account or meter number if you've ever been billed by the DISCO before (new connections won't have this)
  • A working phone number and email address for status updates
  • A passport photograph, in case your DISCO's portal requests one during KYC

Step-by-Step — How to Apply Online

  1. Go to your DISCO's official website and find the "Apply for Prepaid Meter," "Customer Registration," or "Metering" section.
  2. Create a profile or log in if you already have one tied to your account/meter number.
  3. Complete your Know Your Customer (KYC) verification — this is where you upload your NIN, valid ID, and proof of address.
  4. Select the free/NMMP option rather than the MAP (paid) option, if your DISCO's portal presents both choices.
  5. Submit your application. You should receive an Application Reference Number (ARN) — save this, since you'll need it for any follow-up.
  6. Wait for an SMS or email notification once a meter is allocated to your area. This is the step that takes the longest, since it depends on when your DISCO's next batch arrives.
  7. When notified, confirm the appointment for installation. A technician will install and activate the meter on-site, usually at no cost to you.

If your DISCO doesn't have a clear online application option, visit the nearest Customer Care Unit (CCU) physically with the same documents — the process is identical, just done on paper.

DISCO-Specific Application Portals

DISCO How to Apply
Ikeja Electric (IKEDC) Visit ikejaelectric.com, go to "Customer Registration," then "Apply for Prepaid Meter" to complete KYC and request the free (NMMP) option
Ibadan Electric (IBEDC) Many existing customers are auto-enrolled and metered in phases without needing to register — you only need to register if you've never been captured as an IBEDC customer in their system
Other DISCOs (EKEDC, AEDC, PHED, EEDC, KEDCO, BEDC, KAEDCO, JED, YEDC, ABEDC) Check the "Metering" or "Customer Registration" section of your DISCO's official website for their current portal, since exact URLs and form names get restructured periodically

How Long It Actually Takes

There's no fixed national timeline, because allocation depends on how many meters your specific DISCO has received in its current batch from the Meter Asset Providers and Local Meter Manufacturers. Some customers get notified within a couple of months of applying; others wait considerably longer, particularly in DISCOs that have received smaller allocations relative to their unmetered customer base. If it's been several months with no update, follow up directly with your DISCO's CCU using your ARN rather than assuming you've fallen through the cracks.

Single-Phase vs Three-Phase — Does It Matter for the Free Scheme?

Most residential applicants are assigned a single-phase meter, which covers standard household loads. Three-phase meters are typically reserved for premises with heavier electrical loads — larger commercial spaces, certain industrial setups, or homes running multiple high-power appliances simultaneously. You generally don't get to pick the meter type yourself under the free scheme; your DISCO's technical team determines which one matches your existing connection and load based on your account history. If you genuinely need a three-phase meter and you're currently on single-phase, mention this clearly during your KYC application, since reclassifying load type is a separate process from simply requesting a meter.

What Happens After Your Meter Is Installed

Once the technician installs and activates your new meter, you should receive an activation token first — this is different from a regular recharge token and simply switches the meter on. After activation:

  • Confirm the meter number displayed matches what's on your installation paperwork or SMS confirmation, since this is the number you'll use for every future token purchase.
  • Ask the installer (or check your DISCO's portal) to confirm your account has been correctly migrated from estimated billing to prepaid billing — this matters because estimated billing arrears don't just disappear; they're usually rolled into a repayment plan attached to your new prepaid account.
  • Buy a small test token soon after installation to confirm everything is working before you rely on it during an emergency. A ₦1,000 to ₦2,000 token is enough to test that the meter accepts codes correctly.
  • Keep your installation slip or activation SMS somewhere safe — you'll need the meter number on it for every recharge going forward, and DISCOs often ask for it when resolving any future complaint.

The Minister of Power has publicly and repeatedly warned that no DISCO official, contractor, or installer is permitted to collect any payment — cash, transfer, or otherwise — from a customer for a meter issued under the free government scheme. If anyone claiming to represent your DISCO asks you to pay before installing a "free" meter, that is not a legitimate charge. Get their name and ID if possible, decline to pay, and report it through your DISCO's official customer care line or directly to NERC.

If You Already Paid for a Meter Under MAP — You May Be Owed a Refund

If you paid for your meter under the MAP scheme, NERC regulation entitles you to a refund of that cost through energy credits applied to your bill over time, rather than a cash refund. As of a NERC order issued in early 2026, DISCOs nationwide had an outstanding ₦20.33 billion in unpaid meter refunds, and the commission has now ordered all DISCOs to fully clear this backlog within 12 months and set up a dedicated complaints channel specifically for refund issues. If this applies to you, check directly with your DISCO whether your refund credits are reflecting on your bill — we cover exactly how to check this in a dedicated guide.

Common Problems and What to Do (If This Doesn't Work)

You applied months ago and heard nothing Call or visit your DISCO's CCU with your ARN and ask for a status update specific to your application, not a general answer about "the programme." If they can't give you a clear status, that's grounds to escalate to NERC.

An installer or agent is asking you to pay for a "free" meter Decline the payment, note down their name and any ID or vehicle details, and report it immediately to your DISCO's customer care line and to NERC. This is exactly the extortion the Minister of Power has publicly warned against.

The portal says your account or meter number can't be found This usually means your premises hasn't been "captured" in the DISCO's customer database yet, which is common for newer connections or properties that recently changed hands. Visit the CCU physically with your proof of address and ID so they can create or correct your customer profile before you can apply online.

You're metered already but still want a free replacement for a faulty meter The free DISREP/NMMP scheme is generally for unmetered customers, not replacements. A faulty existing meter should be reported as a separate fault complaint to your DISCO, which is typically handled and replaced without the same waitlist.

You're on postpaid and assumed applying for a meter would automatically convert you Applying for a prepaid meter and being on postpaid billing are two different processes that sometimes need separate requests depending on your DISCO. If you're currently postpaid and want to move to prepaid, confirm with your CCU whether your free meter application also handles the billing-type conversion, or whether you need to submit a separate request to close out your postpaid account first.

How to Escalate If Your DISCO Ignores You

  1. Lodge a written complaint at your DISCO's nearest Customer Complaints Unit and get an acknowledgment — you may need this if you escalate further.
  2. If unresolved after about 15 working days, take your complaint to the nearest NERC Consumer Forum office.
  3. If you're still not satisfied, escalate directly to NERC headquarters by phone on 0201 344 4331 or 0908 899 9244, or by email at complaints@nerc.gov.ng.

Prices, programme names, and funding tranches in this space shift fairly often as new government allocations are announced, so always confirm the current status with your DISCO directly before assuming an article (including this one) reflects this month's exact figures. The names attached to these programmes also change over time as new funding rounds replace old ones, so don't be thrown off if your DISCO refers to a slightly different tranche name than the one mentioned here — the underlying free-meter process stays largely the same.

Bookmark this page — we update it whenever DISCO portals or NERC directives change. Still stuck on your application? Drop your DISCO and your specific issue in the comments and we'll help you figure out the next step.