Nigeria’s electricity metering programme recorded modest progress in August 2025, with the national metering rate rising slightly from 54.71% in July to 55.01%, according to data released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The regulator noted that the total number of metered customers across the country increased to 6,579,818 in August, up from 6,508,611 in July, out of an active customer base of 11,960,101. The total number of active customers also grew slightly from 11,897,246 the previous month, reflecting gradual improvements in access to electricity and billing coverage.
The figures were shared in NERC’s Metering Factsheet for July and August 2025, posted on the commission’s official X handle. NERC highlighted that the improvements are part of ongoing reforms to enhance billing transparency and strengthen revenue collection. Earlier reports from The PUNCH indicated that power distribution companies recorded a 43% increase in revenue collection in the first eight months of 2025, earning N1.5 trillion compared with N1.05 trillion in the same period of 2024.
In August, 70,888 new customers were metered, slightly fewer than the 76,783 added in July. Among the 12 electricity distribution companies (DisCos), Ikeja Electric and Eko Electricity Distribution Company recorded the highest metering rates at 84.83% and 84.25%, respectively, while Abuja DisCo followed with 73.92%.
Other DisCos showed mixed progress. Aba Power improved from 54.59% to 60.39%, Ibadan reached 50.54%, and Port Harcourt remained steady at 61.29%. However, northern and mid-belt states continued to lag behind, with Jos, Yola, and Kaduna recording metering rates of 29.61%, 28.65%, and 33.60%, respectively—well below the national average.
Overall, eight of the 12 DisCos surpassed the 50% metering threshold, including Ikeja, Eko, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Aba, Ibadan, Benin (50.78%), and Enugu (46.79%).
NERC emphasized the importance of metering for accurate billing and revenue growth, urging distribution companies to accelerate meter installations, particularly in underperforming regions. To support this, the commission recently approved N28 billion for the second phase of the Meter Acquisition Fund, aimed at providing meters to unmetered Band A customers under the Presidential Metering Initiative.
The directive, outlined in NERC Order No. 2025/10, took effect on October 6, 2025, and requires DisCos to use the funds for procuring and installing meters for unmetered Band A and B customers within their service areas.
Earlier in April 2025, NERC sanctioned eight DisCos, including Abuja, Ikeja, Eko, Enugu, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, and Yola, for exceeding monthly energy caps on estimated billing. The companies were fined a combined N628 million and directed to issue credit adjustments to affected customers.
With these initiatives, NERC expects metering coverage to expand significantly, paving the way for fairer billing, improved revenue performance, and greater consumer confidence in Nigeria’s electricity sector.
