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The short answer
For a prepaid EKEDC meter, the number you need to buy a token is the meter number, which is printed on the meter's label and repeated on every token receipt. For postpaid, you pay against the account number shown on your EKEDC bill. If you cannot find either, EKEDC's care lines, 0708 067 1170 and 0700 123 5666 (Monday to Saturday, 8.00am to 6.00pm), can look the account up from your address.
Meter number or account number: which do you need?
Eko Electricity Distribution Plc (EKEDC) runs two kinds of account, and vendors ask for different numbers for each. Getting this wrong is the most common reason a payment goes to the wrong place.
| Your setup | Number to use | Where it usually appears |
|---|---|---|
| Prepaid meter (you load tokens) | Meter number | On the meter label or keypad unit, on every token receipt, and on the installation paperwork |
| Postpaid (you receive a monthly bill) | Account number | On the printed or electronic bill, and on past payment receipts |
| Unmetered (estimated bill) | Account number | On the bill; you are billed against a feeder cap until metered |
Vending screens normally ask you to choose prepaid or postpaid before you type the number. Choose the wrong type and the vendor either rejects the number or, worse, credits a different account.
Finding the prepaid meter number
On the meter itself
Most prepaid meters carry a printed label with the meter number, often next to a barcode. On a split meter, where the measuring unit is outside on a pole or wall and a small keypad sits indoors, the number is usually on both parts. Some keypads can also display the meter number from a menu; the key sequence varies by brand and model, so check the user guide that came with the meter rather than trying random codes.
On a token receipt
Every token receipt, whether from an app, a bank, a website or a POS agent, prints the meter number the token was generated for. An old receipt in your email, SMS or banking app is often the quickest way to find it. Compare the receipt's meter number with the label on the meter at least once; if they differ, someone has been buying tokens for a different meter.
From the installation paperwork
If your meter came through a Meter Asset Provider (MAP) or EKEDC's own metering, the installation or commissioning document will record it. See how the MAP scheme works if you are still waiting for a meter.
Finding the postpaid account number
Your account number sits near the top of the EKEDC bill, along with the account name, address and tariff class. NERC's Customer Protection Regulations 2023 allow bills to be delivered by text message, email or another electronic method you have agreed to (Regulations 20(2)(b) and 31(1), as summarised by Tope Adebayo LP in May 2024), so search your SMS inbox and email for EKEDC messages if you have no paper bill.
If you cannot find either number
- Check old receipts in your banking or payment apps, and your email and SMS.
- Ask the landlord, caretaker or previous occupant, who may have the number from earlier payments.
- Call an EKEDC care line (0708 067 1170 or 0700 123 5666) with the full address, the name on the account if you know it, and a nearby landmark.
- Use the Register Your Complaint page on ekedp.com if you need a written answer, for example where a meter has no readable label.
- Never pay a stranger to "recover" a meter number. EKEDC's site has a Staff Verification page to check anyone claiming to work for the company.
Moving in, sharing a meter, or seeing a different name
If you have just moved in, the account may still be in a previous occupant's name. That does not stop you buying tokens against the meter number, but you should apply to change the name and check there is no debt attached. Under Regulation 29(3) of the 2023 Regulations, as summarised, a new occupant cannot be made to pay the previous occupant's debt. Our guide to moving house in the EKEDC area covers the handover.
In a compound where several flats share one meter, the meter number is the same for everyone, and so is any debt recovery on it. Agree in writing who buys tokens and how costs are split, and keep the receipts.
What to check before you pay
- The vendor shows a customer name and address after you enter the number; confirm they match your account before paying.
- You have selected prepaid or postpaid correctly.
- The DisCo selected is Eko, not Ikeja Electric. If unsure, see which DisCo serves your street.
- You keep the receipt, which shows the meter number and the token.
Where Pryme fits
Once you have the right number, you can save it when paying through Pryme's bills feature so you do not retype it each time, and the name check appears before you approve. Check the app for supported DisCos.
Questions people ask
Where is the meter number on an EKEDC prepaid meter?
On the label printed on the meter or its keypad unit, often beside a barcode. It is also printed on every token receipt.
Is meter number the same as account number?
No. Prepaid customers buy tokens with the meter number; postpaid customers pay against the account number on the bill.
How can I get my EKEDC account number without a bill?
Search your SMS and email for EKEDC bills, check old payment receipts, or call 0708 067 1170 or 0700 123 5666 with your address.
Why does the name on my meter show someone else?
The account may still be in a previous occupant's or landlord's name. You can buy tokens, but apply for a name change and check for debt.
Sources
- Eko Electricity Distribution Plc: Order a Meter page, with customer care lines, hours and service links · accessed Oct 2026
- Mondaq (Tope Adebayo LP): Highlights of NERC's Customer Protection Regulations 2023, 29 May 2024 · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.