What Happens to Your Electricity When You Travel? Should You Turn Off Your Meter?

Aug 29, 2025

Travelling soon? Many Nigerians wonder if they should switch off their prepaid meters when away from home. Let’s break down what happens to your electricity supply and how you can manage it smartly.

Does a Prepaid Meter Consume Units When Appliances Are Off?

  • No Active Appliances = No Consumption: If all appliances are switched off, your prepaid meter will not deduct units.
  • Standby Power Drain: Some appliances (like refrigerators, decoders) consume small amounts of power even when off.

Should You Turn Off Your Meter When Travelling?

  • Switching Off at the Source is Safer: It’s advisable to switch off your main power supply, especially if travelling for a long time.
  • Meter Tampering Warning: Never tamper with the prepaid meter itself.
  • Consider Surge Protection: Installing surge protectors can prevent power surges while you're away.

Conclusion

Ensure all appliances are unplugged or switched off, and if possible, switch off your main power source. This protects your home and prevents unexpected power usage.

P.S.: To share your thoughts with us, sign up for a free Disqus account. We'd love to hear from you in the comments section.

Did you find this post helpful? Sign up here, and we'll let you know whenever we publish a new one.

Would you like to purchase electricity? CLICK HERE

Simbi

Hi. My name is Simbi. Follow me to get tips on how to improve your electricity, upscale your business and solve all utility challenges today.

Great! You've successfully subscribed.
Great! Next, complete checkout for full access.
Welcome back! You've successfully signed in.
Success! Your account is fully activated, you now have access to all content.