Meter-tampering is one of the major problems facing electricity providers in Nigeria and beyond. It involves unauthorized manipulation or modification of the meter with the sole aim of altering the reading to bypass bill payment.
There are many ways that meters may be tampered with. Some may be intentional, while others may be external factors. So, if you notice any unfamiliar signs on your prepaid meter, you should fix them. However, if you don’t know how to fix it, there is no cause for alarm because we are here to guide you. Keep a tab as we go through it together.
However, it is important to note that it is only electricity providers that can fix a tampered meter. This means that it is only the electricity distribution company that can fix a tampered electric meter. So, if yours is tampered with, it is best to reach out to your disco for urgent action. A tampered meter is hazardous, so it is best to get it fixed whenever you notice any tampering signs.
What is Prepaid Meter tampering?
In the simplest terms, prepaid meter tampering means any unauthorized manipulation of the meter to alter energy consumption readings with the primary goal of evading payment. Meter tampering can take different forms, ranging from meter reprogramming, meter calibration, and physical tampering to meter bypassing.
Meter tampering normally changes the working principle of the meter, making it unable to read accurately, leading to a loss of revenue for the electricity provider. If you notice that your meter is tampered with, you should report it to your electricity provider for an immediate fix.
How to identify a Tampered Meter
If you don’t know whether your meter has been tampered with or not, there are a few signs that show that a meter has been tampered with. You can identify a tampered meter with any of the signs below:
1. Broken Seals
One of the most common signs of a tampered meter is broken seals. So, if you notice that the seal on your meter is broken, it may be an indication that the meter has been tampered with.
2. Physical Damage
Physical damage like broken wires or meter covers is another sign of a tampered meter. So, if the cables leading to your prepaid meter are broken, it may be an indication of meter tampering.
3. Inconsistent Readings
If there is a difference between the meter readings and actual energy consumption, it may also be an indication of meter tampering.
4. Irregular Behavior
If your meter starts behaving abnormally, like sparking, unusual sounds, or fluctuations in electrical supply, it may be an indication of meter tampering.
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How to Fix a Tampered Prepaid Meter
If your meter is tampered with, it is best to get it fixed. That can be done by following these steps.
1. Document all the Evidence
Before proceeding with the fixing, the first thing to do is to document all the evidence of the tampering with any available means, like photographing, videoing, or writing it down. This documentation is very important because you may be asked to provide it before it is fixed.
2. Contact your Electricity Distribution Company
After documentation, the next thing is to contact your disco and inform them that your meter has been tampered with. Give detailed information about the incident and request assistance to get it fixed.
At this point, your disco will send a technician to you to ascertain the level of tampering.
3. Inspection by the Technician
The technician will inspect the meter thoroughly to identify what is wrong with it. After the inspection, the technician will determine the level of damage and recommend appropriate solutions to fix the meter.
4. Meter Repair or Replacement
If the tampering is severe or the meter is damaged beyond repair, then your disco will provide another meter to replace the damaged one. But if the damage is repairable, then the technician will fix it and your meter will start working again. And that’s all.
How to remove tamper code for prepaid meter
To remove tamper code from your prepaid meter, you will need to contact your utility provider. This means that you can’t just remove tamper code from your meter yourself. So, if your meter is tampered with and it is displaying tamper, you will need to contact your utility provider for them to help you fix it.
Conclusion
A tampered electric meter can be repaired by reporting it to the electricity distribution company in charge of the area under coverage. So, if you notice any sign of tampering on your meter, you should contact your disco for an immediate fix. Don’t forget to fix a tampered meter as soon as possible to avoid the consequences of a tampered meter.
