Nigeria’s electricity metering programme has recorded steady progress, with the national metering rate rising to 55.01 per cent in August 2025, up from 54.71 per cent the previous month.
The development, disclosed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), reflects the ongoing reforms aimed at improving transparency and accountability in the country’s power sector.
According to the latest NERC Metering Factsheet for July and August 2025, the number of metered customers increased to 6,579,818 out of a total active customer base of 11,960,101.
This represents a modest but significant improvement in metering coverage and access to accurate billing across Nigeria’s distribution companies (DisCos).
The report further showed that total active customers also grew from 11,897,246 in July, signalling incremental expansion in electricity access despite persistent infrastructure challenges.
Focus on Nigeria’s Electricity Metering Rate and Regional Gaps
While the national metering rate climbed to 55 per cent, the performance across distribution companies revealed deep regional disparities.
Ikeja Electric and Eko Electricity Distribution Company continued to lead with the highest metering rates of 84.83 per cent and 84.25 per cent, respectively, while Abuja DisCo followed with 73.92 per cent.
However, coverage remained weak in the northern and mid-belt regions, where Jos, Yola, and Kaduna DisCos recorded metering rates of 29.61 per cent, 28.65 per cent, and 33.60 per cent — well below the national average.
The commission acknowledged these variations, noting that closing the gap in Nigeria’s electricity metering rate requires targeted interventions and stronger collaboration between regulators and distribution companies.
In total, eight of the 12 DisCos surpassed the 50 per cent mark, including Ikeja, Eko, Abuja, Port Harcourt (61.29 per cent), Aba (60.39 per cent), Ibadan (50.54 per cent), Benin (50.78 per cent), and Enugu (46.79 per cent).
NERC Pushes Metering Fund to Boost Coverage
As part of its drive to improve Nigeria’s electricity metering rate, NERC recently approved the disbursement of ₦28 billion to distribution companies under the Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF) initiative.
The fund, according to Order No. 2025/10, is dedicated to providing meters to all unmetered Band A customers free of charge.
It forms a critical component of the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) — a federal programme designed to close Nigeria’s estimated seven-million-meter deficit and promote equitable billing for consumers.
The order, signed by NERC Vice Chairman Dr. Musiliu Oseni and Commissioner for Legal, Licensing and Compliance Dafe Akpeneye, directed all DisCos to utilise the funds strictly for meter procurement and installation within their service areas.
The regulator maintained that widespread metering remains vital for accurate energy accounting, loss reduction, and improved cash flow in the electricity value chain.
Billing Fairness and Accountability Drive
NERC’s latest data also highlighted that 70,888 new customers were metered in August, compared with 76,783 in July, underscoring a slight slowdown in monthly metering activities.
Still, the commission expressed confidence that the recently approved funding and ongoing reforms would accelerate progress in the coming quarters.
In April 2025, NERC sanctioned eight DisCos, including Abuja, Ikeja, Eko, Enugu, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, and Yola, for violating the energy caps set for estimated billing of unmetered customers.
The affected companies were fined a total of ₦628 million and ordered to issue credit adjustments to all impacted customers.
The enforcement action, according to NERC, was necessary to curb arbitrary billing and ensure fairness for consumers who have long complained about overestimated charges.
Revenue Growth and Sector Outlook
The modest rise in Nigeria’s electricity metering rate comes amid broader improvements in the sector’s financial performance.
Earlier this month, ireport247news.com reported that power distribution companies collectively grew their revenue by 43 per cent in the first eight months of 2025, earning ₦1.5 trillion, compared with ₦1.05 trillion in the same period of 2024.
Energy analysts attribute this to better collection efficiency, improved supply consistency for Band A customers, and regulatory pressure for transparency.
They believe the increased metering rate has directly contributed to higher revenues by reducing disputes and improving billing accuracy.
However, stakeholders warn that sustaining these gains requires continuous investment in metering infrastructure and aggressive consumer sensitization campaigns.
Towards Full Metering Coverage
NERC reaffirmed its commitment to achieving near-universal metering coverage in the next few years.
It urged all DisCos to step up meter installations, especially in underperforming regions, to build customer confidence and enhance financial sustainability.
“The commission expects that with ongoing reforms and the Meter Acquisition Fund in place, metering coverage will expand significantly in the coming months,” NERC stated in its report.
The regulator emphasized that a transparent and efficient billing system is essential for restoring trust in Nigeria’s power sector and attracting private investment into distribution infrastructure.
As the country continues its long journey toward stable electricity supply, the steady improvement in Nigeria’s electricity metering rate marks a crucial step in eliminating estimated billing — one of the sector’s most persistent challenges.
