4.85m Electricity Customers Still Without Meters As DisCos Add 308,106 In Two Months

Despite ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to close the electricity metering gap, about 4.85 million active electricity customers remain without meters across Nigeria.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), in its latest Metering Status of Distribution Companies Factsheet for May and June 2026, disclosed that a total of 308,106 meters were delivered to customers by Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) during the two-month period.

According to the regulator, the number of active electricity customers increased by 0.55 per cent, from 12.52 million in May to 12.59 million in June 2026.

However, only 7,743,839 customers were metered as of June, leaving roughly 4.85 million active customers still dependent on estimated billing.

NERC said the figures reflected “continued progress in customer metering across the country,” as the DisCos intensify efforts to bridge the metering deficit and reduce reliance on estimated billing.

The performance of the DisCos showed significant variations, with Eko Electricity Distribution Company recording the highest metering rate at 88.70 per cent.

Ikeja Electric followed with 87.91 per cent, while Abuja Electricity Distribution Company recorded a metering rate of 81.38 per cent.

The latest figures come amid intensified efforts by the Federal Government to achieve universal electricity metering and end arbitrary estimated billing for electricity consumers.

Under Phase One of the $500 million World Bank-financed Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP), the government is supporting the rollout of additional meters across the country.

The Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), coordinated by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), is also aimed at accelerating the deployment of meters and eliminating estimated billing for registered electricity customers.

Giving an update on the initiative, the Director-General of BPE, Ayodeji Gbeleyi, said about 1.033 million meters had been delivered under the programme, with 668,000 already deployed and installed at customers’ premises.

Gbeleyi said: “We have implemented 60 per cent of the meters that have been delivered in the country out of 1,033,000. So far, we have deployed and installed 668,000 meters on customers’ premises.”

Also speaking on the government’s intervention, the Minister of Power, Mr Joseph Tegbe, said the government was working collaboratively to ensure Nigerians derive greater value from public services.

“We are working concertedly and in a very collaborative manner to ensure that we give value, either in electricity or in telecoms—whichever area—to make sure that Nigerians benefit from this government,” he stated.