In a significant move to address Nigeria's longstanding electricity metering gap, the Federal Government has unveiled plans to install 75,000 electricity meters in April, followed by an additional 200,000 units in May. This initiative is part of the broader Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), which aims to provide two million meters annually over the next five years.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, highlighted the critical importance of this initiative during a recent facility tour of Metering Solutions Manufacturing Services in Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. He emphasized that the current metering gap affects approximately seven million electricity consumers, representing about 47% of the total customer base. This shortfall has led to widespread reliance on estimated billing, a practice often criticized for its lack of transparency and fairness.
Adelabu stated, "The major deficit is metering penetration, which today is less than 50% of total customers in electricity consumers. We have 13 million registered electricity consumers whose meters have not been installed today, which is below six million. So, we have about a seven million meter gap, that is about 47% meter penetration. That is the major issue in the sector; if you do not meter customers, you cannot bill them, and if you do not bill, you cannot collect."
The PMI is designed to harmonize various metering initiatives under a unified framework, ensuring a systematic approach to bridging the metering gap. The government has set a minimum target of acquiring and installing two million meters annually over the next five years, totaling 10 million meters. This strategy is expected to enhance revenue collection, reduce losses in the power sector, and improve consumer satisfaction by eliminating the contentious estimated billing system.
The administration's commitment to this initiative reflects its dedication to improving the nation's power infrastructure and addressing one of the critical challenges facing the electricity sector. By prioritizing metering, the government aims to foster a more transparent and efficient electricity billing system, ultimately contributing to the overall goal of achieving reliable and sustainable power supply across Nigeria.