Pre-paid meter bills: Nigerians dump electrical appliances to cut cost

Usage of electrical appliances is one lifestyle Nigerians have come to embrace to achieve ease and save time in the various activities they perform in their homes.

During the era of pre-paid metres, gadgets such as electric stove, cooker, blenders, washing machines, boiling rings, pressing iron, deep freezers, among others, were highly purchased by households to either upgrade their kitchens or ease time in activities surrounding their lives.

Many especially women join thrift’s contribution (ajo or esusu as popularly known in Nigeria) to be able to raise money to purchase some of these items thereby putting smiles on the faces of producers and distributors of such gadgets.

However, the economy and lifestyle has discovered that many households have now abandoned the use of most of these gadgets since the introduction of prepaid meters.

Some ended up selling them  to people selling fairly used products or other people still on post paid meters.

Mrs. Bridget Johnson, a banker said: “ Since I started using prepaid meter, I have stopped using most of my gadgets, especially the electric cooker, washing machine, pressing iron, among other things.

“We watch television set once a day. I had to buy an ipad where I downloaded various types of cartoons and educational materials for my kids to keep them busy.

“We switch off the lights and put on my fridge for three hours and switch it off once it is iced  for a day.

“The rate at which the prepaid meter runs is alarming of recently.

“Before I pay N32 per unit and when I load N10,000 with strict adherence to the rules my husband and I placed in the house it lasts us up to two weeks for the bills to get exhausted.

“But recently, I discovered that when I loaded the N10,000 it wasn’t up to the two weeks before it finished.

“I had to call the electricity distribution office where they told me I had been transferred to band A.

“I was so pissed off with such a transition but had no choice than to accept it .

“In Nigeria of today you have to cut costs whether you like it or not.”

Mr. Shodimu Olorunfemi, a businessman, said: “Using a prepaid meter has its own advantages. “One of them is regulating what you consume.

“By doing so you have to forfeit carrying out certain lifestyles, especially using electronic gadgets that consume lots of electricity.

“Such gadgets like electric cooker, hot plate, pressing iron, refrigerator, Air conditioner, among others consume higher units of electricity.

“In my house, I prohibited the switching on of lights during the day and also watching television all the time.

“Except I have a very important event I want to attend, I don’t iron my clothes. I pick the clothes for each day and hang them to straighten up.

“My wife and I had to give out most of our gadgets to family members and friends who use post paid meters.

“With this development and the state of the economy, those selling electronic gadgets are on the losing side because people like us will not even have a spoilt gadget talk of buying a new one.”

For Mrs. Bakare Judith, a secretary and newly wed, she sold all her home appliances that consume high electricity units.

“I had to sell most of the electric gadgets I brought to my husband’s house when I discovered that he was using a prepaid meter.

“I use the blender once in two months and ironing is done once in a blue moon.