Gombe Worship Centres Push Back Against Prepaid Electricity Meters as Jos DISCO Reports Heavy Revenue Losses
The Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) has expressed concern over what it describes as increasing resistance by churches, mosques, and grinding machine operators in Gombe State to the installation of prepaid electricity meters. According to the company, the opposition is contributing significantly to revenue losses and undermining efforts to promote transparency and accountability in electricity billing.
Speaking in an interview with Arewa PUNCH, the Head of Corporate Services at JEDC, Musa Abdullahi, said the resistance had become more pronounced in recent weeks, driven largely by social media narratives discouraging worship centres and small businesses from accepting prepaid meters. He described the trend as surprising and counterproductive, particularly given the company’s long-standing advocacy for metering as a fair and accurate billing system.
Abdullahi noted that some churches, mosques, and operators of grinding machines have openly rejected the installation of prepaid meters, despite being connected to the public power supply. He explained that JEDC operates strictly as a utility company and does not categorise consumers based on religious or social considerations.
“Electricity does not recognise worship centres or markets. Everyone connected to the grid is a consumer and is treated as such,” he said.
He further expressed disappointment that religious institutions, which often promote moral discipline and honesty, would oppose a system designed to measure actual electricity consumption. According to him, prepaid meters ensure that customers pay strictly for what they use, eliminating disputes associated with estimated billing.
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Abdullahi added that many worship centres fall into the category of high-demand customers, especially during services and religious activities, due to the use of public address systems, lighting, fans, air conditioners, and other electrical equipment. He argued that accurate measurement of consumption through prepaid meters is essential for fairness, both to the utility company and to other consumers on the network.
“It is only fair that our Imams and Pastors encourage the installation of prepaid meters so that actual electricity usage can be properly determined,” he said.
Beyond concerns about compliance, JEDC disclosed that it is currently facing a substantial gap between energy supplied and revenue collected, with losses running into hundreds of millions of naira each month. Abdullahi provided figures to illustrate the scale of the challenge.
In August, the company reportedly received 19.58 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, valued at approximately ₦1.57 billion after applying a 70 per cent billing efficiency benchmark. However, collections for the month stood at only ₦744 million, resulting in a loss of over ₦800 million. Similar trends were recorded in subsequent months.
In September, JEDC received 20.22 million kilowatt-hours valued at ₦1.67 billion but collected just ₦757 million, again losing about ₦800 million. The situation worsened in October, when energy received increased to 25.26 million kilowatt-hours worth ₦1.86 billion, yet revenue collections dropped further to ₦694 million.
Abdullahi described the decline as unsustainable, warning that continued resistance to metering and low revenue recovery could affect service delivery, infrastructure maintenance, and future investments in the power sector.
He emphasised that prepaid metering remains the most reliable tool for achieving transparency, accountability, and long-term sustainability in electricity supply. According to him, widespread adoption of prepaid meters would help reduce disputes over billing, curb electricity theft, and enable distribution companies to plan more effectively.
While reactions from the public have been mixed, with some consumers raising concerns about high tariffs and band classifications, others argue that metering is a necessary step toward reforming Nigeria’s electricity sector. The debate has also highlighted broader issues such as trust in distribution companies, the affordability of power, and the need for regulatory clarity.
As discussions continue, JEDC has urged all consumers in Gombe State—religious institutions and commercial operators alike—to support the metering initiative, insisting that accurate billing is essential for improving electricity supply and ensuring the survival of the power distribution system.