A Productive Rant About Electricity Bills

When do rants get productive? Well, this is a productive rant about electricity in Nigeria. Electricity shortages are a reality in Nigeria, and this rant has highlighted the need for sustainable and reliable power solutions.

I AM SCREAMINGGGGGGG!!!!

“How did I spend this much on electricity in January?” I have other bills to pay too. “How did this happen?”

Okay, let’s stop here for a while and smile a bit. That is the agony of every adult Nigerian at some point in their life. You can’t imagine how much you spend on bills, the most important one being electricity. 

Electricity bills are hefty. They tend to run the pocket dry when they are not regulated. Against all the other bills we pay as adults, the electricity bill is perhaps the biggest. We heard of people who spend over 35% of their monthly income on electricity bills alone. This is not surprising considering the rate of inflation in the country.

As a Nigerian, having a monthly budget is often laughable because we tend to overspend that budget at some point. If we don’t overspend on transportation, the tariff on electricity will increase at some point. The prices of commodities and utilities are never fixed. This severely cripples the effects of budgeting. Back to our rant, guys. 

Major blackout,

One major event that kept recurring in 2022 was the power grid that kept collapsing. The government blamed the repeated grid outages on poor management and insufficient gas supplies. The grid collapsed approximately seven times last year, causing total blackouts every time. The government’s explanations for the grid outages were backed up by reports from energy experts who found that the outages were caused by a combination of insufficient gas supplies and issues with the way the grid was being managed. Poor maintenance, aging infrastructure, and inadequate staffing were all identified as contributing factors.

Electricity bills increment,

The steady rise in the bill is very uncomfortable in a country where the rate of inflation rises without a commensurate rise in income.  This is the backbone of our rant today. The electricity tariff went up by 18.5% in the last quarter of 2022. The implications of this are by no means minuscule. Its impact was harder than that of the Titanic against the iceberg that sank it. Monthly financial plan in the mud. . Just sit tight, and let’s unravel what works and what does not work in this Nigerian context. Since it isn’t possible to change tariffs, we can change what we can. To continue this productive rant about electricity in Nigeria,

We all started with post-paid meters. That sorta type where ‘NEPA” (we don’t call them that anymore) officials bring a bill to show how much electricity you have spent and how much you had to pay. Those bills were outrageous. If you couldn’t afford them, your power would be disconnected. The prepaid meters came along many years after. This has its own advantages and disadvantages. Ask an average Nigerian, and they will tell you their preferred choice.

Remember when you would stand outside begging NEPA officials not to disconnect you while someone ran to the nearest NEPA office to help you pay your bill? Those are stories now. Just like with Prepaid Meters, disconnection is unnecessary, with VTpass, going out to pay bills is unnecessary. Simply log on to ppp.vtpass.com or download the mobile app to buy airtime or data, pay electricity or education bills, Pay DStv, GOtv, or Startimes subscription, or buy insurance cover.

Experience seamless payments and get immediate value when you pay your electricity bills and more with VTpass.


3 Things You Didn’t Know About Prepaid Meters

Prepaid Meters are the in-thing for anyone leasing an apartment or renting space right now. It affords the opportunity to be able to monitor your electricity usage and avoid paying when there is no power. Prepaid Meters, like the name implies, are loaded with units before you begin to use them. Pretty much like the airtime recharge system.

Here are three things you probably didn’t know about Prepaid Meters

1. Free Units Are Not Free.

Nothing is free even in Freetown, and this is Nigeria. When you newly acquire a prepaid meter, you will be told as an incentive that your meter comes with free units for you to use at first. When the units are depleted, you can now begin to pay. This is not entirely true. Yes, the meter comes loaded with units, but, they are not free. You realise this when you want to purchase units and are told that there is a debt on your meter. Some of us learnt the hard way, it’s better you are prepared in advance. So, when you get your meter, use the units that come with in with the knowledge that you will pay for it, eventually. It isn’t free.

2. You Can Calculate and Monitor Your Units

One of the major advantages of the Prepaid Meter is that you can track your power consumption. You don’t have to wait till your bill arrives. If you want to check your prepaid balance or know the amount of total credit used, press 07 on your prepaid keypad and hit the blue button. Your available balance will be displayed on the screen in this format (150.15). This usually works for most prepaid meters.

3. Making Payment is Easy With The Right Platform

Remember when you would stand outside begging NEPA officials not to disconnect you while someone ran to the nearest NEPA office to help you pay your bill? Those are stories now. Just like with Prepaid Meters, disconnection is unnecessary, with VTpass, going out to pay bills is unnecessary. Simply log on to ppp.vtpass.com or download the mobile app to buy airtime or data, pay electricity or education bills, Pay DStv, GOtv or and Startimes subscription or buy insurance cover.

Experience seamless payments and get immediate value when you pay your electricity bills and more with VTpass.

My Prepaid Meter Tragedy

The Prepaid Meter is fast becoming popular, but this wasn’t always the case. When introduced, many were excited at the prospect of paying for the exact electricity units used. No more estimated bills. No more inaccurate readings. Also, an end to paying for electricity you were not supplied.

Another group of people didn’t react as well to this. Those who had tampered with their meters so they would have reduced bills to pay. I was one of such people. Yes. Corruption is everywhere. I didn’t even register for the prepaid meter, yet it was brought. That’s how I knew that my village people wanted to start writing final year project on my head.

The prepaid meter came with free units and for a while, I was in heaven. All was well in paradise until barely two weeks later, the units finished. I needed to make payment. I “shaparly” logged on to ppp.vtpass.com where a friend had told me I can make my electricity bill payments. In less than a minute, my IKEDC payment was done. Seamless, just the way I like it!

I still did not have light! How come? I contacted VTpass 24-hour support, chatted with Laolu, and He told me that there was debt on my meter. New meter? That’s when I discovered that the free units are not actually free! I paid and got more units. Now there’s light almost all through the day, great! 4 days later, my units were depleted. I could not cry. Please coman take this prepaid meter back, I don’t want. Bring back awa postpaid, I’m in severe pains.

I have learnt my lesson. Every thing is deducted from your units. Now, even my wall sockets go off if I am not using it, because this prepaid life is difficult!

5 Benefits of Third-party Auto Insurance

Third party car insurance is a compulsory policy required for all car owners in Nigeria and is backed by law.

Third party car insurance cover or liability cover is a policy which protects the car owner or driver of the vehicle against any legal liability, accidental liability, financial loss or property damage, medical expense cover in the event of an injury to or even death of any third party arising out of their vehicle.

Asides from being a mandatory requirement for using the road for drivers, below are other benefits of having third-party auto insurance:


Provides Legal Cover and Financial Assistance:

Third-party auto insurance covers the insured person’s legal liability in case of death or disability to any third party, and any loss or damage to a third party property.


Ensures Peace of Mind:

Third-party auto insurance brings peace of mind when dealing with any traumatic situation that hinges on financial payments. Hence, instead of worrying further about such unforeseen expenses, the focus is just on the immediate relief from stress and coping up with the incident.


Security:

Third-party auto insurance gives you confidence when you get into a road accident and also covers you against violent reactions in cases of accident/loss.


Easy Round the Clock Availability of Third Party Car Insurance:  

Unlike other insurance policies that are limited to only the offline method of renewal or application, VTpass third-party auto insurance is easily available online round-the-clock i.e 24/7, and 365 days a year from any location.


The shift of burden:

With third-party insurance, you do not need to worry over the third-party loss as the Insurer supports you in such instance.

Now that you understand why it is so important to invest in a third party car insurance, always remember that this is the best way to gain comprehensive coverage against losses that you might incur if your car gets damaged, stolen or causes injury, death, and damage to third-party or third party property.


How To Purchase Third-Party Auto Insurance Policy


Steps ;

1) Visit ppp.vtpass.com

2) Select the Auto Insurance icon

3) Enter full information and payment details

4) Click Submit


What & How Can You Invoke The Third-Party Insurance Policy?

Anytime you get involved in any of the scenarios mentioned in the previous paragraphs (and covered in the insurance contract); all you need to do is file a claim. You can file a claim directly via the Insurance Company or the agent that underwrote the insurance policy for you. Make sure you have clear photo evidence, and receipts (in case you paid for part or the full claims already).

Third-Party Auto Insurance Now Available on VTpass

Third-party auto insurance now available on VTpass

Introducing its latest feature and the cheapest third-party auto insurance deal into the Nigeria market, VTpass now offers third-party car insurance for as low as #3,000 naira only.

Third-party insurance generally, is an insurance policy purchased for protection against the claims of another i.e it is meant for the protection of other road users while you use our car.

For instance, if you insure your car on third party only insurance (the premium is N3,000 naira), and you get involved in a road accident where you are at fault, the insurance company will be liable for the repair of the other person’s car while you repair your own car. Also, if you damage somebody’s property like a building’s fence in an accident, the fence will be repaired by the insurance company. However, you should take note that there is a certain limit to what the insurance company will pay for motor third party property damage. The maximum is N1,000,000.00, but some can pay as high as N2,000,000.00.

Protect your car with VTpass third-party auto insurance service.

A lot of Nigerian drivers have wrong perceptions about auto insurance policies and only subscribe to it because it is among the vehicle license documents legally required for them to use the road. In fact, only 1 in 100 car owners understand that third party car insurance is not just a document for road usage, but a savior in times of unexpected occurrences. When you run into Police or other agency roadblocks, and your car particulars are checked, if you do not possess third-party insurance, you would be arrested.


Regardless, check out how to Purchase third-party Auto Insurance policy:

Steps:

1) Visit ppp.vtpass.com

2) Select the Auto Insurance icon

3) Enter full information and payment details

4) Click Submit

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Pay AEDC & Other Electricity Bills On VTpass

Electricity bills payment on VTpass
Electricity bills payment made easy on VTpass

We will forever be grateful for technology, and its daily advancement as human life has been made easier since the advent of the Internet.

Similarly, payment of your PHCN electricity bills for either Prepaid or Postpaid meter has been made a lot easier, faster, and for your convenience.

Rather than commute to the PHCN office, you can now purchase electricity tokens for your prepaid meter or recharge your postpaid meter online at the convenience of your home or office.

How, you ask?

Here’s a breakdown on how to pay your electricity bills for Ikeja electric, Abuja electric, Kano electric, Jos electric, etc.

Steps:

  1. Visit ppp.vtpass.com / download the VTpass mobile app,
  2. Click on Electricity payment,
  3. Select your Electricity area & Meter type,
  4. Enter your correct Meter & Payment details
  5. Click Submit and get your Token instantly

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How To Locate Your PHCN Meter Number

About PHCN prepaid meter

The introduction of prepaid meters came as a great relief to most Nigerians who were already tired of paying outrageous bills.

By using the prepayment method, customers can now properly budget and pay their electricity bill right before they use it.

Just like topping up your mobile phone with airtime, so also is recharging your electricity meter. Likewise, you can only get electricity supply when you credit your meter.

Different types of prepaid meters

There are two main types of prepaid meters: key meters and smart card meters.

A key meter uses a special electronic key which has your tariff information on it,

While a smart card meter sends your latest information through to your supplier when topped up.

How to locate your meter number

Each prepaid meter has its unique ID which varies in length between 11-7 digits. This meter number usually contains a combination of numbers and letters.


Each meter number has been made very easy to locate as this is often seen above or beneath a bar-code on your meter.

You can also find this on the front of your meter, engraved into the meter box or printed on a sticker attached to the meter box.

Anyone can now pay their electricity bills for both prepaid and postpaid meter on VTpass for a secure, easy and convenient transaction. Make payment for different electric areas on VTpass including Ikeja electric, Eko electric, Abuja electric, Portharcourt electric , Kano electric, and Jos electric.

Pay your electricity bills on VTpass

  • Visit ppp.vtpass.com ,
  • Click this https://ppp.vtpass.com/electricity-bill to select your electricity area,
  • Enter your payment details and submit.

Remember that your correct meter number must be supplied when buying prepaid electricity.

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