Please I need the advice of Nairalanders especially from those with practical experience. I want to know if to continue with estimated billing or just go for a pre-paid meter (under Ikeja Electric).

Lately, my bill in a month has been between N22,000 and N28,000. I complained and they got back to me to initiate a pre-paid meter processing. Now that the processing has commenced, I am contemplating whether to stick with the estimated billing or go on with procuring the prepaid meter (even though I think the proper thing is the pre-paid meter option)

So these are the appliances in my house
- Deep freezer ------------------------------------- (always on)
- Fridge with freezer ------------------------------ (always on)
- Inverter with 2 batteries, 150AH each ---------- (always on)
- Water dispenser --------------------------------- (always on)
- 2 Ceiling fans ------------------------------------ (on from 7pm on weekdays and as needed on weekends)
- 35inch TV ---------------------------------------- (on for an average of 8 hours daily)
- DSTV --------------------------------------------- (on for an average of 8 hours daily)
- One standing fan, about 40 WATTS ------------- (on for an average of 8 hours daily)
- AC 1HP ------------------------------------------- (on from 7pm on weekdays and as needed on weekends)
- AC 2HP ------------------------------------------- (on from 7pm on weekdays and as needed on weekends)
- Automatic washing machine -------------------- (used for an average of 3hrs running time every day; kids' clothes are always dirty)
- Boiling kettle ------------------------------------ (used for an average of 1hr everyday for bathing in the mornings and evenings)
- 7 energy saving bulbs, the highest WATT is 24 - (on for about 7 hrs in a day; 3 hrs in the mornings and 4 hrs in the evenings)
- Ironing ------------------------------------------------ (an average of 2 hours for the whole week)

Note: Putting any device 'on' or using them for the number of hours stated above is a function of power availability.
Also some of the devices have varying hours because there are days I work from home and would need some appliances on e.g. the 40 WATTS standing fan

So objectively, based on the estimated usage of the appliances listed above (please pay close attention to the usage hrs/days/weeks), should I continue to pay between N22 and N28k monthly on estimated billing OR going for a pre-paid meter would come cheaper? Please I need those with experience to advice me pls

Like for me to continue on estimated billing
Share for me to switch to prepaid
Reply to add your reasons

@Seun, please can you add polling functionality to Nairaland. Thank yo Sir!

Go for prepaid meter.You will also regulate your energy consumption when you get the prepaid.
You don't have to use the appliances all at once.You also won't use fans or ACs when no one is in the room.

Why is your freezer and fridge always on? Why not plug in when the level if coldness drops to a certain level. Only the power rating for the two when used for 8 hours daily is about 22 Kilowatts-hour, which using my current bill is 20×49 naira per kilowatt. So roughly #1000 per day for these 2 alone, they are energy burning devices. I don't know much about prepaid but the unit cost was almost doubled January this year. I see you paying more with prepaid by my extimate, unless you change your appliance to DC rather than AC.

Believe me, prepaid is always better.. the concept of estimated billing is even wrong and they might decide to increase it anytime depending on the AEDC marketer in your region.. get the prepaid meter..

Prepaid would garner about 40k per month based on your usage o. Inverter battery recharges, ACs, Washing machines, boiling kettle and pressing iron being the heavies users here.

Let me put it in perspective for you:
10k will by your about 200 units now and you will likely use about 700 to 800 units per month if you continue with your exact usage.

Finally, you have no choice here though, PHCN has a mandate to meter all households in Nigeria with prepaid meter and you're not supposed to pay for it. So get ready .

With all the electronics you mentioned, baba just stick to your estimated jejely.

If you were to use prepaid, you'd be coughing out roughly 50k to power these appliances.

Talking from experience.

My guy, you better dey your dey with post-paid.. With what you listed there.

One question though - How many hours of supply do you have a day?

This will determine your total wattage and prepaid bill

With all the appliances you listed Mr man, the bills they are giving you is not much. Imagine, two inverters. Everything two two. Haba!

They deliberately told you to get a prepaid so you'll know whats up by the time you connect all those things to it. Under 2 days it's gone.

If you know you still want to be enjoying all those things, I'll advise you stick with the postpaid plan otherwise cut down the use of some of those appliances and get a prepaid meter. It's up to you.

You can't have your cake and eat it.

how many hours do you have light a day, let's start from there.
if you have up to 12hrs light a day, I'll advise you stick to estimated bill/post paid. your appliances are power consuming.

SUPERPACK:
Why is your freezer and fridge always on? Why not plug in when the level if coldness drops to a certain level. Only the power rating for the two when used for 8 hours daily is about 22 Kilowatts-hour, which using my current bill is 20×49 naira per kilowatt. So roughly #1000 per day for these 2 alone, they are energy burning devices. I don't know much about prepaid but the unit cost was almost doubled January this year. I see you paying more with prepaid by my extimate, unless you change your appliance to DC rather than AC.

This is a very logical advice, but how do I do this when we all go to work? How do I do this when I don't know when there will be actual power supply to get the devices to freezing point. This is how we have successfully preserved food, stew, butter and other edibles. I can't risk this on and off thing with beans for instance.

Thanks for the valid advice though.

Yes, I am in the category of those who get above 12hrs power daily...but the times they supply the power daily are erratic so I CAN'T plan properly and say everyday I will switch off my freezer at 12pm for instance...they bring the light anyhow, but you can sum up daily and see that it's over 12hrs.

dmg1:
how many hours do you have light a day, let's start from there.
if you have up to 12hrs light a day, I'll advise you stick to estimated bill/post paid. your appliances are power consuming.

Get a prepaid,

That 22-28k you are paying now can easily jump to 50-60k the next month.

Get a prepaid and regulate your consumption

Wise advice!

Thank you

NoToPile:
Get a prepaid,

That 22-28k you are paying now can easily jump to 50-60k the next month.

Get a prepaid and regulate your consumption

Prepaid plus back it up with Solar power l.

Prepaid is better.

We use just one prepaid in our entire compound and the 60k we sub last month is still on till now.

In my apartment alone, I use AC, electric stove, freezer, and electric Iron.

My neighbors use AC too plus only God knows the other heavy appliances they use in house.

The only thing that you can use without being at home is your freezer and fridge.

Get a prepaid and learn how to be economical with light

Prepaid is bae...buh no boiling kettle ooh

dewiseacre:


This is a very logical advice, but how do I do this when we all go to work? How do I do this when I don't know when there will be actual power supply to get the devices to freezing point. This is how we have successfully preserved food, stew, butter and other edibles. I can't risk this on and off thing with beans for instance.

Thanks for the valid advice though.

Just know that you are taking a big risk by leaving such heavy appliance on when no one is around. They can easily burn due to a short circuit, high voltage etc. I am saying this because our fridge caught fire some time in 2017 immediately they brought light and no one was around, if not for neighbours our house would have joined it.

pozehnani:

You can't have your cake and eat it.

First time poor me's seen this statement used casually with the right wording and to mean just what it is!
Big ups Pozehnani �

Good evening,please I just paid for a new prepaid meter and I was told I will pay 7k for the wire because I don’t have wires by the PHCN officials that want to install it tomorrow. Please is this true

bunmitepresh:
Good evening,please I just paid for a new prepaid meter and I was told I will pay 7k for the wire because I don’t have wires by the PHCN officials that want to install it tomorrow. Please is this true

hope you paid sha

SUPERPACK:
Why is your freezer and fridge always on? Why not plug in when the level if coldness drops to a certain level. Only the power rating for the two when used for 8 hours daily is about 22 Kilowatts-hour, which using my current bill is 20×49 naira per kilowatt. So roughly #1000 per day for these 2 alone, they are energy burning devices. I don't know much about prepaid but the unit cost was almost doubled January this year. I see you paying more with prepaid by my extimate, unless you change your appliance to DC rather than AC.

Freezers should be on 24/7 if you don't want to lose the foods inside. This is Nigeria where you cant be sure of 24 hours power supply or when the power source would be faulty.

@op, with what you listed in your post, it is better you stick with your estimated bill. Units are very costly now, you will spend nothing less than 40k on prepaid. Monthly.