Electricity consumers paid at least N84.366bn for electricity meters in 2025.

Daily Trust reports that under the Meters Assets Programme (MAP), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) allowed electricity consumers to pay for meters which will be refunded to them by the electricity Distribution Company (DisCo) serving the customer in electricity token for a period of 10 years.

The sum was generated using an average of N130,000 per meter as the price varies for each meter company with three-phase meters costing over N200,000

According to an analysis of the quarterly report produced by NERC in 2025, 965,303 meters were deployed during the year. However, the distribution started in the second half of the year.

Out of these, 648,972 were through the MAP framework, accounting for 67.23 percent of meters, this is followed by the Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF) with 125,025 meters, accounting for 12.95 percent.

Next is the Distribution Sector Recovery Program (DISREP), a $500 million World Bank-funded initiative, with 88,553 meters, making 9.17 percent. This is despite the meters shared in the second half of the year.

This is followed by the Vendor Financed with 77,967 meters deployed, accounting for 8.08 and the last is DisCos Financed with 5,892 meters, accounting for 0.61 percent.

Further breakdown on quarterly deployment showed 187,194 meters were installed in the first quarter with 148,713 meters from MAP, 36,787 from MAF, 620 through vendor financed and 1,074 through DisCos Financed.

In the second quarter, the meter deployment increased to 225,631 with 147,823 given through MAP, 65,315 through MAF, 12,259 through Vendor Financed and 234 through DisCos Financed.

For the third quarter, 228,614 meters were installed; 176,302 through MAP, 175 through MAF, 7,902 through DISREP, 44,104 through Vendor Financed and 131 through DisCos Financed.

For the fourth quarter, 323,864 meters were deployed out of which 176,134 was through MAP, 22,748 through MAF, 80,651 through DISREP, 20,984 through Vendor Financed and 4,453 through DisCos Financed.

Why only Band A customers enjoy free meters

Despite the federal government assuring Nigerians that the free meters under the DISREP will be free for all customers, Daily Trust gathered that the DisCos are only giving it to Band A customers.

An official of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) who spoke with our reporter on condition of anonymity, said the meters are currently given to band A customers due to their importance to the financial stability for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

He added that the meters are also given to old customers who the company feels their consumption is not reflective of the supply given to them.

“We all know how important Band A customers are to the market as they are the only ones paying cost reflective tariff. The high price they pay has made many to reject estimated billing because they see it as exploitative, so we prioritise them.”

“Also, the new meters are used to replace old meters for some customers who we feel their consumption is low. This might be due to tampering of the meters or being obsolete. For the remaining customers they can go for MAP which the cost they used to purchase it will be refunded subsequently,” he said.

Confirming this, an electricity customer in Abuja, said he applied for a meter in January hoping to get the meter but has yet to receive any.

“It has been four months now and I am yet to get the meter. No one has called from the DisCo to give me an update on my application or what alternative I should go for.

“I am already on solar in my house, the reason why I am not desperate to go through the bribing channel to fast track it. While I know getting meters is time consuming, many people using meters I know told me they often give out bribes to receive the meters.”

“I could have gone the route of estimated billing but since I have solar, it serves the little it can power little appliances,” the consumer said.

What government said on meters

It would be recalled that the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) Director-General, Dr. Ayodeji Gbeleyi had in February said the meters provided under the $500 million World Bank funded Distribution Recovery Program (DISREP) are free.

He also noted that the installation of the meters is free of charge as well, warning customers to resist any electricity Distribution Company (DisCo) compelling them to pay for them.

According to him, the Federal Government has provided the meters to eliminate estimated billings from the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

Asked whether the meters were truly free, he requested the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Chairman, Dr. Musliu Oseni to respond.

The NERC boss said: “The government has taken responsibility to borrow money and provide these meters and said to DisCos ‘I don’t want you to charge my people for these meters. Go and distribute these meters freely.’

“These meters are to be deployed and installed freely. Anybody asking you to bring money, kindly report to the utility because most of the time, the extortion is between the installers or staff of the DisCos and the customers. This is not inclusive of the management.”

The DISREP Investment Project Financing is a $250million facility that supports DisCos by financing the bulk procurement of 3.2milliion smart customer and retail level meters.

The other component of DISREP is programme for result, which is also a $250million facility.

According to Gbeleyi, 182,000 meters are already installed under the DISREP, which he stressed are for all.

The BPE boss stressed that the meters are for customers who have no meters, however the government has granted DisCos request to allow them to deploy 20 per cent of the meters for replacement of faulty or expiring meters. (Daily Trust)

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