The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has released a report confirming that 185,439 prepaid meters were installed across the country by electricity distribution companies (DisCos) during the fourth quarter of 2024. This marks a slight increase of 0.19% from the previous quarter, indicating a gradual but steady effort to improve metering in the country.
According to the report, the Ikeja, Ibadan, and Benin DisCos led the installation efforts, collectively accounting for more than 60% of the total meters deployed during the period. However, despite these improvements, NERC revealed that only 46.57% of electricity consumers in Nigeria currently have prepaid meters, leaving a significant portion of customers still on estimated billing.
The slow progress in metering has been attributed to a combination of supply chain challenges, financial constraints, and bureaucratic delays. NERC has urged DisCos to ramp up their efforts in addressing the metering gap, stressing that full metering of electricity consumers remains a critical priority for the Nigerian power sector.
With rising complaints about estimated billing, consumers have continued to demand wider access to prepaid meters to ensure fair and transparent electricity billing. The government, through the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme and National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP), has reiterated its commitment to bridging the gap and ensuring all Nigerian households receive meters in the coming years.