The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has urged electricity distribution companies and meter asset providers to accelerate the installation of electricity meters in a renewed effort to close Nigeria’s persistent metering gap.
The commission made the call in a statement posted online on Tuesday following a recent Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry Metering Stakeholders’ Meeting. The meeting focused on strengthening coordination among key stakeholders to fast-track meter deployment and improve billing transparency in the power sector.
According to the regulator, discussions at the meeting highlighted a shift in strategy from simply financing metering projects to improving collaboration among industry players.
The commission said there is now “a shift in focus from financing metering projects to better coordination among stakeholders.” It added that efforts are also underway to align the four major metering programmes currently being implemented to address the country’s metering deficit.
NERC stressed that stronger collaboration across the electricity value chain is necessary to accelerate installations and improve service delivery to electricity consumers.
The statement noted that greater cooperation among distribution companies, meter providers, and other industry players would help speed up the rollout of meters nationwide.
The regulator explained that improved metering would enhance transparency and accuracy in billing across the sector. According to the commission, widespread meter deployment will ensure consumers are billed based on actual consumption and help eliminate the controversial estimated billing system.
NERC also emphasised the importance of effective communication with electricity consumers. It highlighted the need for a coordinated communication strategy that would increase public awareness and encourage consumer participation in metering programmes.
Participants at the stakeholders’ meeting included representatives from the World Bank, Meristem, the Nigerian Communications Commission, the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, electricity distribution companies, and meter asset providers.
The commission said the engagement forms part of broader efforts aimed at improving metering coverage, transparency, and operational efficiency within Nigeria’s electricity market.
Nigeria currently has more than six million electricity customers who remain unmetered and are billed through estimated billing due to inadequate metering infrastructure.
In January, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, announced that electricity meters procured under the World Bank-funded Distribution Sector Recovery Programme would be installed free of charge for all categories of electricity consumers.
Adelabu stressed that the meters must be installed at no cost to customers, regardless of their tariff band.
He warned that it would be illegal for electricity distribution companies or their agents to demand payment from consumers before installing the devices.
“It is unprecedented that these meters are to be installed and distributed to consumers free of charge. Nobody should collect money from any consumer,” the minister said.
“It is an illegality. It is an offence for officials of distribution companies across Nigeria to request a dime before installation. Even the indirect installers cannot ask consumers for a dime. It has to be installed free of charge so that billings and collections will improve for the sector,” Adelabu added.
However, electricity distribution companies have argued that the financial burden of the metering programme would eventually fall on them.
The DisCos explained that although the meters are described as free by the Federal Government, they are expected to repay the cost over a period of 10 years. They also raised concerns about being responsible for installation expenses.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Musiliu Oseni, later clarified that not all meters being installed across the country are free.
Oseni explained that meters provided under government-funded programmes are free at the point of installation, while other options are still available for customers who do not want to wait for government deployments.
He said meters supplied under the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme are fully funded by the Federal Government and must be provided to customers without charge.
According to him, customers who prefer faster access to meters can still obtain them through the Meter Asset Provider scheme by paying for the devices.
“The meter provided by the government is 100 per cent free. The DISREP meter is free because it is paid for by the government,” Oseni said.
He added that although distribution companies would repay the financing under favourable loan terms, consumers would not be charged for the meters through electricity tariffs.
