To ensure uninterrupted electricity services, customers in Nigeria can now upgrade their pre-paid meters to the latest STS2 version. This upgrade, facilitated by Eko Electricity Company, is crucial as STS2 technology improves security and functionality for pre-paid meters.
What is the STS
The STS stands for Standard Transfer Specification, a secure message system for carrying information between a point-of-sale and a meter.
What is the STS 2 Meter Upgrade
The STS 2 meter upgrade is a mandatory requirement for all STS compliant meters around the world. The STS 2 comes with improved security measures compared to the ordinary STS meters.
Here’s a quick guide to make the switch:
How to Upgrade Your Pre-paid Meter to STS2
1. Visit the Upgrade Portal: Go to http://kctcheck.ekedp.com to start the process.
2. Enter Your Meter Number: Input your meter number and click the “search” option.
3. Input Key Change Tokens (KCTs): You’ll receive two 20-digit KCTs. Enter them one at a time as prompted.
Once completed, your pre-paid meter will be successfully upgraded to STS2.
Why Upgrade?
Failing to upgrade by the November 24, 2024 deadline may prevent you from recharging your meter, disrupting your power supply. Fortunately, this upgrade is free and easy to complete.
Nigeria’s Metering Challenges
Despite efforts, many Nigerians still lack meters, leading to reliance on estimated billing. According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), only 5.8 million of the over 13 million registered customers have meters. The slow pace has led to billing disputes and dissatisfaction among electricity consumers.
Upgrades like STS2 help improve the metering experience, but the industry still faces hurdles. The NERC report also highlighted a reduction in government electricity subsidies, while DisCos struggle to meet remittance obligations. This push for STS2 meter upgrades marks one of many steps needed to modernize Nigeria’s power infrastructure and improve customer experience.
For pre-paid meter users, upgrading to STS2 will help ensure smooth and secure electricity service, with enhanced features to streamline future upgrades and payments.
