In a major push to close Nigeria’s metering gap, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved ₦28 billion for the procurement of prepaid meters for all unmetered customers under Tariff Band A—at no cost to the consumers.
The announcement was made through an official Order on the Operationalisation of Tranche B of the Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF), signed by NERC Vice Chairman Musiliu Oseni and Commissioner for Legal, Licensing & Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye.
According to the Order, the funding—sourced from DisCos’ remittances under the MAF scheme—is designed to eliminate metering gaps among Band A customers and speed up deployment for those under Band B as well.
> “The ₦28 billion shall be allocated in proportion to the respective contributions of the Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos), and are intended to meter all outstanding unmetered Band A customers,” the commission stated.
It also confirmed that “all the meters to be procured and installed under the MAF framework shall be provided at no cost to the customers.”
The Commission stressed that the move is part of efforts to create a transparent, accountable, and efficient structure for the nationwide meter rollout. The order outlines responsibilities for both DisCos and Meter Asset Providers (MAPs), while also detailing the financing terms, utilisation procedures, and performance evaluation requirements.
> “This order aims to establish a clear framework for the implementation of Tranche B, ensuring that participating entities adhere to operational guidelines that preserve the integrity of the MAF scheme,” NERC explained.
This follows an earlier release of ₦21 billion under Tranche A in April 2024, which was also directed towards meter procurement.
NERC added that accelerating metering for Band A customers is not just about equity but also crucial for revenue protection and effective demand-side management within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
> “There is an urgent and compelling need to accelerate the closure of the metering gap for all customers currently classified under Tariff Band A,” the Commission emphasized.
As electricity consumers across the country continue to demand transparency and fairness in billing, this initiative could mark a turning point in restoring public confidence in the power sector.
