NERC okays N30bn to meter Band A customers

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved N30bn for the third phase of the Meter Acquisition Fund to accelerate the installation of electricity meters for unmetered Band A customers and expand coverage among Band B consumers.

The regulator has also directed electricity distribution companies to complete all meter installations under the programme by 31 May, 2027, warning that customers must not be charged for meters provided through the initiative.

The commission disclosed this in Order No. NERC/2026/121 on the operationalisation of Tranche C of the Meter Acquisition Fund, effective 2 November, 2026. It announced the order in a post on its official X handle on Tuesday.

The post read, “The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC or the Commission) hereby informs electricity consumers and stakeholders of the issuance of Order No. NERC/2026/121 on the Operationalisation of Tranche C of the Meter Acquisition Fund, effective 2 November 2026.

The Commission has approved N30 billion for Tranche C, to be allocated among the eleven Distribution Companies (DisCos) in proportion to their respective contributions to the Fund. The funding is intended to meter all remaining unmetered Band A customers and accelerate the metering of Band B customers, with equitable distribution across states within the respective DisCo franchise areas.”

The latest funding is part of the Federal Government’s Presidential Metering Initiative, which seeks to close the country’s persistent electricity metering gap, protect consumers from estimated billing and improve accountability in the power distribution system