Prepaid electricity meters have changed how people in Nigeria pay for electricity. Instead of getting surprise bills at the end of the month, you buy power units first, then use them. This guide will show you the easiest ways to recharge your prepaid meter in 2025.
How to Recharge Your Prepaid Meter Online with VTpass
Gone are the days when you had to walk to the nearest PHCN office or hunt for a vendor every time your units ran low. In 2025, recharging your prepaid meter using VTpass is as easy as ordering food online, and honestly, it should be the only way you’re doing it.
Step-by-Step Guide Using VTpass
Step 1: Go to VTpass. Open www.vtpass.com on your phone or computer. If you don’t have an account, create one. If you have one, log in.
Step 2: Click on Electricity. Look for the electricity section on the main page. Click on “Buy Electricity.”
Step 3: Choose Your Electricity Company. Pick your electricity company from the list. If you live in Lagos, it might be Ikeja Electric or Eko Electric. If you don’t know yours, check your old electricity bill or ask your neighbors.
Step 4: Put Your Meter Number Type in your meter number carefully. This is usually 11 numbers found on your meter or your electricity bill. Make sure every number is correct.
Step 5: Choose How Much to Buy. Type in how much money you want to spend on electricity. Most places require at least ₦1,000.
Step 6: Pay for It. Choose how you want to pay:
- Your ATM card
- Bank transfer
- Mobile money
Step 7: Get Your Token. After payment, you will get a 20-digit token immediately. VTpass sends it by text message and email.
Step 8: Put the Token in Your Mete.r Go to your meter. Press the buttons to get to token entry mode. Type in all 20 numbers carefully. Press the confirm button. Your meter will show the new units added.
Why Use VTpass to Recharge Your Prepaid Meter
Let’s be honest – there are plenty of options for buying electricity online, so why am I specifically recommending VTpass? After using various platforms over the years, VTpass consistently delivers the best experience, and here’s why.
- It Works Fast. You get your token in a couple of minutes after paying. The system works 24 hours a day. Even on holidays, you can buy electricity.
- It’s Safe. Your money and personal information are protected. VTpass has proper licenses from the government. They have been working for many years without problems.
- Many Payment Options: You can pay with any Nigerian bank card. You can use a bank transfer. You can pay with mobile money. All major banks work with VTpass.
- Good Customer Service. If you have problems, VTpass helps you quickly. You can call them, send WhatsApp messages, or chat on their website. They reply fast and solve problems.
- Works with All Electricity Companies. No matter which part of Nigeria you live in – Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, to Abuja, VTpass works with your electricity company. When you pay with VTpass, you earn cashback and VTpoints you can use for later purchases.
Common Prepaid Meter Problems and How to Fix Them
Sometimes your meter can have problems. Let’s talk about the issues you’re likely to encounter and how to solve them without panicking.
Understanding Error Codes
Your meter speaks to you through error codes, and once you understand what they mean, troubleshooting becomes much easier.
| Error Code | What It Means | How to Fix It |
| Error 30 | Wrong token | Check if you typed the numbers correctly |
| Error 31 | Token already used | This token was used before, get a new one |
| Error 1 | Meter memory problem | Call your electricity company |
| Error 3 | Screen problem | Try restarting your meter |
Token Not Working
This is probably the most common issue people face, and it’s incredibly frustrating when you’re sure you’ve entered the token correctly.
Most of the time, it’s a simple typo. Those 20-digit tokens are easy to misread, especially when you’re in a hurry… Sometimes the token might be corrupted during transmission, or you might accidentally be using a token meant for a different meter.
How to Fix It: Type the token again, very slowly. Check each number carefully. Make sure you’re putting it in the right meter. If it still doesn’t work, call VTpass or your electricity company.
Meter Won’t Take New Tokens
Sometimes your meter won’t accept any new tokens, regardless of how carefully you enter them. This usually happens when the meter’s memory is full or there’s a system issue.
The Memory Problem Older meters have limited storage for token history. If yours is full, it won’t accept new tokens until you free up some space. Try using your meter for a few more hours to consume stored units, then try entering your token again.
System Clock Issues: If your meter’s internal clock is wrong, it might reject newer tokens. This requires a reset, which varies by meter model, or contact with your DisCo for a Key Change Token (KCT) update.
No Power After Buying Electricity
This occurs when you buy electricity; the units show up on your meter, but you still don’t have power.
Always use grid electricity (not generator or solar power) when entering tokens. This is crucial because your meter needs to synchronize with the grid system during token entry. Using alternative power sources can cause synchronization problems that result in loaded units but no power supply.
Getting Less Units Than Expected
You buy ₦5,000 worth of electricity but only get units worth ₦3,000.
Why this happens: You probably owe money from before. Electricity companies take part of your payment to pay off old debt first, then give you the remaining units.
How to Handle It: Contact your DisCo to get a complete debt statement. If you believe the debt is incorrect, dispute it formally. To avoid this in the future, try to clear any outstanding debt completely so future recharges give you full unit value.
Meter Tampering Warnings
Never attempt to open your meter or modify its connections. This triggers tampering codes and can lead to serious legal issues.
If your meter shows tampering errors that you didn’t cause, contact your DisCo immediately. Document everything and request an official technical visit to resolve the issue properly.
How to Check Your Prepaid Meter Balance
Knowing how much electricity you have left is crucial for planning your recharges and avoiding those inconvenient, sudden blackouts. Fortunately, checking your balance is easier than most people think.
Reading Your Meter Display
Most modern prepaid meters are quite user-friendly when it comes to displaying information. Your meter’s LCD screen is the window to know how much electricity you have consumed.
Always-On Display: Some meters continuously show your remaining units. You’ll see something like “45.6 kWh” or “120.3 Units” on the screen. This means you have 45.6 or 120.3 units of electricity left to use.
Button-Activated Display: Other meters require you to press any button to wake up the display. The screen will then show your balance, for example, it can show 156.2 Units, which means your balance is 156.2 units.
Cycling Information: Many meters automatically cycle through different pieces of information – remaining units, current tariff, total energy consumed, and sometimes even the time. Just wait a few seconds and watch the display change.
Using Meter Codes for Detailed Information
Different meter brands respond to specific codes that give you detailed information about your account. Think of these as secret commands that unlock additional features.
| Meter Brand | Balance Code | What You’ll See | Other Useful Codes |
| MOJEC | 009 + Blue/Green Button | Available units, tariff index, total energy consumed | 006# (tariff info), 100# (total purchased) |
| LONGI | 801 + Confirm | Remaining units and meter status | 802# (total purchased), 804# (tariff details) |
| HEXING | #006# | Tariff and balance information | #100# (total purchased), #302# (last recharge) |
| MEMCO | 800 | Available units | 801 (total consumed), 802 (last recharge amount) |
How to Use These Codes The process is straightforward: press the code in sequence, then press the confirmation button (usually blue, green, or confirm, depending on your meter brand). The information you requested will display for a few seconds before the meter returns to its normal display.
DisCo Rates in Nigeria: What You Need to Know in 2025
Understanding electricity pricing in Nigeria can feel daunting, but it’s actually quite straightforward once you grasp the basics. The key is knowing that not all electricity customers pay the same rate – it depends on how reliable your power supply is.
Nigeria is divided among 11 electricity distribution companies, each serving specific geographical areas. Your location determines which DisCo serves you, and each DisCo may have slightly different operational characteristics:
| Company Name | Short Name | Areas They Serve |
| Ikeja Electric | IKEDC | Most of Lagos State |
| Eko Electric | EKEDC | Lagos Island, Victoria Island |
| Abuja Electric | AEDC | Abuja, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger |
| Port Harcourt Electric | PHED | Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa |
| Enugu Electric | EEDC | Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi |
| Benin Electric | BEDC | Edo, Delta, Ondo, Ekiti |
| Ibadan Electric | IBEDC | Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Kwara |
| Jos Electric | JEDC | Plateau, Gombe, Bauchi, Benue |
| Kaduna Electric | KAEDCO | Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara |
| Kano Electric | KEDCO | Kano, Jigawa |
| Yola Electric | YEDC | Adamawa, Borno, Taraba, Yobe |
How Much You Pay Depends on Your Power Supply
Here’s where things get interesting. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) introduced a service-reflective tariff system that basically means “you pay based on what you get.” If you receive an excellent power supply, you pay premium rates. If your power supply is inconsistent, you pay less.
The New Pricing Structure Band A customers – those who enjoy 20-24 hours of electricity daily – now pay ₦209.50 per kilowatt-hour. This represents a massive increase from the previous subsidized rate of around ₦66, but it reflects the true cost of providing reliable electricity.
For customers in other bands (B, C, D, and E), the government still provides subsidies, so they pay significantly less per unit. This system is designed to gradually move toward cost-reflective pricing while protecting customers who receive poor service.
How to Check Your Electricity Tariff Band
Your tariff band determines both how much you pay for electricity and what level of service you should expect.
| Band | Daily Supply Hours | Service Level | Pricing | Subsidy Level |
| Band A | 20-24 hours | Premium service, minimal outages | ₦209.50/kWh | No subsidy |
| Band B | 16-20 hours | Good reliability, some maintenance outages | Moderate rates | Some subsidy |
| Band C | 12-16 hours | Average service, regular planned outages | Lower rates | Increased subsidy |
| Band D | 8-12 hours | Basic service, frequent outages | Subsidized rates | Significant subsidy |
| Band E | 4-8 hours | Minimum service, daily extended outages | Heavily subsidized | Maximum subsidy |
Finding Out Your Band
Through Your DisCo’s Website, Most DisCos now provide online portals where you can check your tariff information. For example, if you’re an Ikeja Electric customer, visit their website, navigate to customer services, and enter your meter number. The system will display your current tariff classification.
Direct Customer Service Contact When online options aren’t available, calling your DisCo’s customer service line with your meter number handy will get you the information you need. Most customer service representatives can immediately tell you your current band and explain what it means for your billing.
Conclusion
Managing your prepaid electricity meter in 2025 doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful. The key is embracing the digital revolution that’s made online recharging not just convenient, but actually more reliable than traditional methods.
Think about it – with platforms like VTpass, you can buy electricity anytime, anywhere, without worrying about vendor availability or carrying cash. You get instant tokens, digital receipts, and customer support when things go wrong. It’s a game-changer.