NERC Urges DisCos to Speed Up Free Meter Installations

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has called on electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to accelerate the installation of free meters as part of efforts to close Nigeria's significant meter gap. This announcement followed a recent meeting with stakeholders in the electricity sector, focusing on improving coordination among key players to fast-track meter deployment and enhance billing transparency.

NERC emphasized the need for stronger collaboration across the electricity value chain to achieve faster installations. Currently, an estimated six million customers are billed due to poor metering systems.

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, announced that free meters would be provided to consumers without any charges, funded by the World Bank as part of a recovery program. DisCos are not allowed to charge consumers for these installations, and the federal government will cover the costs over a ten-year period.

NERC Chairman Musiliu Oseni clarified that the meters would be provided at no cost to consumers, ensuring improved billing accuracy and eliminating estimated billing practices.