Despite recording an increase in metering rate, over 5 million electricity customers remain unmetered across Nigeria.
According to the latest metering status report released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the total number of metered customers across all electricity distribution companies (DisCos) reached 7,435,733, accounting for 59.5% of 12,457,068 active customers as of April 2026.
This means 5,021,335 electricity customers nationwide, representing 40.31 per cent, are still not metered as of April 2026.
The NERC Factsheet for March and April 2026 shows that the national metering rate rose slightly to 59.69 per cent by the end of April, from 59.13 per cent recorded in March.
The report indicates that 115,905 customers were metered in March, while 111,654 were metered in April 2026, reflecting an addition of 4,251 metres installed in April. The data show that while the number of metered customers increased in April, the number of active customers also rose by 70,220, from 12,386,848 in March to 12,457,068 in April.
Leading DisCos in meter deployment during the period under review include: Eko, which achieved a metering rate of 88.78 per cent, Ikeja (87.93 per cent), and Abuja (80.08 per cent).
DisCos that recorded poor performance in metering during the period include Yola, which had a 34.45 per cent metering rate, Jos (34.67 per cent), Kano (35.40 per cent), and Kaduna (37.51 per cent), all highlighted in “red”.
Benin had 59.14 per cent, Enugu (51.38 per cent), Ibadan (53.75 per cent), and Port Harcourt (67.73 per cent).
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Metering Gap Concerns
Experts have repeatedly raised concerns about the implications of the persisting metering gap on liquidity in the power sector. They stressed that apart from implementing cost-reflective tariffs, closing the metering gap is critical to boosting revenue collection by DisCos, which continue to record shortfalls.
Unmetered customers are subjected to estimated billing, a system that often leads to disputes and has been identified by NERC as a risk of “overbilling.” Concerns about overbilling, which results from estimated billing practice, have eroded trust in the power sector and have been a major source of customer dissatisfaction. For instance, over 168,000 complaints were reported at distribution company units in the third quarter of 2025 alone, according to NERC’s quarterly report.
To protect unmetered consumers, NERC has continued to enforce monthly energy caps on estimated billing. These caps limit the maximum amount a DisCo can bill an unmetered customer on a specific feeder, based on the energy received and the consumption of metered customers on that same feeder.
Meter Rollout and Initiatives
While meter deployment continues, the pace is considered slow to close the gap. The Meter Asset Provider (MAP) framework has been the dominant channel for new installations, accounting for 77.12 per cent of meters installed in Q3 2025. The MAP scheme is a framework created by NERC to bridge the metering gap by allowing private companies to provide, install, and maintain meters for customers.
Under the scheme, customers pay for the meter upfront and get funded over time as energy credits on their account, typically over a 120-month (10-year) amortisation period.
In a bid to address delays in refunding customers, NERC issued an order earlier this year with effect from March 1, 2026, mandating full automation of meter cost reimbursement for customers who procured meters under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) framework. The order also prohibited DisCos from using meter reimbursement credits to offset any pre-existing debts a customer may have.
Other metering initiatives, such as the Vendor-Financed framework and the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP), have made smaller contributions. The ₦700 billion Presidential Metering Initiative has also been launched to accelerate the rollout of millions of meters, though progress has been slower than expected.
Victor Ezeja is a Nigerian journalist skilled in producing insightful news analyses, feature stories, and interviews that simplify complex issues and drive informed public discourse. His work combines rigorous research, balanced reporting, and compelling storytelling to highlight developments shaping industries and society. Victor, who holds a Master's Degree in Mass Communication, specializes in energy, aviation, business, and economic reporting. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X