Cut Your NEPA Bill in Half: The Nigerian Guide to Energy Saving

Many Nigerians hate prepaid meters because they "read too fast." But they are better than estimated billing if you manage them.

Monitor Your Usage:
Don't just load credit and forget. Check your balance daily at the same time (e.g., 8 PM). If you used 10 units yesterday and 20 units today, ask yourself: "What did I turn on differently?"

The Red Light:
If the red light on your meter is blinking fast, you are consuming heavy power. If it blinks slowly, you are efficient.

Some appliances eat electricity even when you think they are off.

The Culprits:
- Electric Kettle: Boiling water takes huge power. Use a gas cooker instead.
- Standby Mode: Your TV, Decoder, and Sound System consume power just by being plugged in. Turn them off at the wall socket.
- Old Fridges: That 15-year-old fridge is an energy disaster. Modern fridges use 60% less energy.

Thinking of going solar? Know what you are buying.

Monocrystalline (Black Panels):
- More efficient.
- Works better in low light (cloudy days).
- More expensive.

Polycrystalline (Blue Panels):
- Cheaper.
- Needs more roof space to generate the same power.
- Good if you have a large roof and a tight budget.

Verdict: In Nigeria, Mono is usually better because of our rainy season cloud cover.

The battery is the most expensive part of your solar setup.

Tubular (Wet Cell):
Cheaper upfront. Needs maintenance (topping up distilled water). Lasts 2-3 years.

Lithium-Ion (Dry Cell):
Expensive (2x-3x price). Zero maintenance. Lasts 7-10 years.

Advice: If you can afford it, buy Lithium once and rest for a decade.

Inverter ACs:
They regulate their speed instead of stopping and starting. They save 40% energy compared to normal ACs.

Ironing:
Iron in bulk. Heating up the iron takes the most power. Once it's hot, it uses less to stay hot. Don't iron one shirt every morning.