The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has urged electricity distribution companies and meter asset providers to accelerate meter installations as part of efforts to close Nigeria’s metering gap.
The commission made this known in a statement posted online on Tuesday, following a NESI Metering Stakeholders’ Meeting held recently. According to the regulator, the meeting focused on improving coordination among key players to fast-track meter deployment and improve billing transparency in the power sector.
The commission said there is “a shift in focus … from financing metering projects to better coordination among stakeholders.” It added that there was also a “move to align the coordination of the four metering programmes currently running to close the metering gap.”
NERC stressed that stronger collaboration across the electricity value chain is necessary to achieve faster installations.
The statement noted that “greater collaboration among DisCos, meter providers, and other players is needed to speed up installations.”
The commission explained that improved metering would enhance transparency and billing accuracy across the sector. It stated that improved metering will ensure more accurate billing and help eliminate estimated billing.
The regulator also emphasised the importance of improved consumer communication, noting “the need for a coordinated communication strategy to boost consumer awareness and participation.”
Participants at the meeting included the World Bank, Meristem, NCC, NEMSA, electricity distribution companies, and meter asset providers, among others. The commission said the engagement forms part of broader efforts aimed at improving metering coverage, transparency, and efficiency in Nigeria’s electricity market.
Nigeria still has over six million customers with under-estimated billing due to a poor metering system. In January, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, announced free meters for all categories of electricity customers.
The minister said meters were procured under the World Bank–funded Distribution Sector Recovery Programme and must be installed for consumers free of charge, regardless of their tariff band.
“I want to mention that it is unprecedented that these meters are to be installed and distributed to consumers free of charge—free of charge! Nobody should collect money from any consumer.
“It is an illegality. It is an offence for the 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 said.
But DisCos maintained that the cost burden would still fall on them over time. They said the meters tagged as free by the Federal Government would still be paid for by the DisCos within a period of 10 years, adding that it was unclear why DisCos were expected to bear installation costs.
The NERC Chairman, Musiliu Oseni, later clarified that not all electricity meters currently being installed across the country were free. Oseni explained that meters provided under government-funded initiatives are free at the point of installation, while other options still exist for customers who are unable or unwilling to wait.
Oseni said meters supplied under the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme, known as DISREP, are fully funded by the Federal Government and must be provided to customers at no cost, but those who feel the deployment is taking too long could pay for the product under the MAP scheme.
“The meter provided by the government is 100 per cent free. The DISREP meter is free because it is paid for by the government. The DisCos have been rolling it out. Of course, they will pay the money back, but the loan comes at a very minimal interest rate.
“So, through the tariff, DisCos are not going to charge customers because of the meter. They are to provide it free of charge to the customers, and that is what the Honourable Minister and the DG of BPE actually meant. And it is 100 per cent free,” Oseni said.
