The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Plc. has announced an upcoming upgrade of its Standard Transfer Specification (STS) prepaid meters to enhance efficiency that aligns with global standards.
The upgrade known as Token Identification (TID) Rollover aims to ensure continued seamless operation of prepaid meters while maintaining customer satisfaction.
The Managing Director of IBEDC, Mr Kingsley Achife, made the disclosure in a statement on Wednesday in Ibadan.
He said the upgrade would take effect from Aug 1.
Achife added that the upgrade would involve integration of a global software update into STS meters, making them compatible with the new TID Rollover protocol.
“This upgrade is imperative as, starting from Nov. 24, 2024, all STS meters worldwide will cease to accept old credit tokens without the necessary meter upgrade.
“To facilitate a smooth transition, IBEDC will provide its prepaid meter customers with Key Change Tokens (KCT) alongside their regular energy tokens when purchasing electricity,” he said.
According to him, the KCT serves as a unique reset token and is crucial for successfully completing the meter upgrade process.
“Obtaining the KCT is free, and customers can upgrade their meters without any impact on the current electricity tariff,” he said.
He added that customers must take note of some important details during the mandatory upgrade period.
“Customers must upgrade their prepaid meters by sequentially entering the two KCT tokens (KCT 1 and KCT 2) and then the energy token, as provided by IBEDC.
“Effective from Aug. 1, 2023, old credit tokens will become obsolete. Customers must ensure that unused or previously purchased energy tokens are loaded into their meters before this date.
“On credit balance preservation, the meter upgrade process will not affect the credit unit balance on the meter.
“Customers can rest assured that their balance will remain intact after the upgrade.
“The meter upgrade is a one-time process. Subsequent energy token purchases will continue as usual after the upgrade has been completed, “he said.
He gave assurance of IBEDC’s commitment to supporting its customers throughout the transition, adding that its field officers would be available to assist customers and monitor compliance.
“If a meter fails to load energy tokens following the KCT upgrade, customers are advised to promptly contact our customer care at 07001239999, email us at customercare@ibedc.com or send messages to WhatsApp number 07059093900.
(NAN)
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