Over 5 Million Electricity Consumers Still Without Meters, NERC Data Shows

Despite new installations by distribution companies, Nigeria still has a large gap in electricity metering.

Data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission shows that about 5.1 million active electricity consumers still had no prepaid meters as of February 2026. That represents about 41 percent of the country’s 12.31 million active electricity customers.

These numbers reveal slow progress in a sector where estimated billing remains a major source of consumer complaints.

Metering Rate Improves Slightly

According to NERC’s factsheet, Nigeria’s national metering rate increased from 57.93 percent in January 2026 to 58.57 percent in February.

In February, distribution companies installed 121,798 new meters, bringing the total number of metered customers to 7.21 million.

This improvement is important, but it is not closing the gap quickly enough.

Millions of homes and businesses still depend on estimated bills, and many customers say these bills often do not match their real power use.

Why the Metering Gap Matters

Meters give consumers more control by helping them track their usage and pay only for the electricity they use.

When customers do not have meters, they must rely on estimated billing. This often leads to disputes with distribution companies and reduces trust in the power sector.

The problem is even harder for small businesses. Many already deal with high costs for diesel, petrol, rent, and logistics. Unclear electricity bills add more pressure.

Expanding metering could help improve payment habits, reduce billing disputes, and allow DisCos to collect revenue more fairly.

Best Performing DisCos

Some distribution companies did better than others.

Eko Electricity Distribution Company recorded one of the strongest metering rates at 87.62 percent in February. Ikeja Electric followed closely with 87.16 per cent. Abuja Electricity Distribution Company also performed strongly with 79.37 percent.

Port Harcourt DisCo recorded 66.36 percent.

These numbers show that networks in bigger cities have made faster progress in closing their metering gaps.

DisCos Still Lagging Behind

Yola, Jos, Kano, and Kaduna DisCos had the weakest results.

Yola DisCo recorded the lowest metering rate at 31.86 percent. Jos followed with 34.04 percent, while Kano and Kaduna posted 35.37 percent and 35.59 percent respectively.

This means that most customers in these areas still do not have meters.

The gap between Eko’s 87.62 percent and Yola’s 31.86 percent highlights a big imbalance in the sector.

New Meter Installations in February.

Benin DisCo installed the most new meters in February, with 25,658 new installations.

Abuja DisCo followed with 18,352 new meters, while Ibadan DisCo installed 16,445 meters.

The pace of installations still needs to speed up. If things do not change, millions of customers could be stuck with estimated billing for a long time.

Expert View

Energy market analysts point out that Nigeria’s metering problem affects more than just consumers. It also impacts revenue and the system’s trust.

If customers do not trust their bills, they are less likely to pay. When DisCos cannot collect enough money, they find it hard to invest in better networks. This cycle affects the whole power sector.

A quicker metering program would benefit consumers, DisCos, and regulators. It would also make tariff reforms easier, since customers are more likely to accept price changes when billing is clear.

What NERC Must Watch

NERC should continue to push DisCos that have low metering rates.

The regulator should also share regular updates in a simple way. Consumers need to see how their DisCo compares to others.

Metering should not be based only on where someone lives or how much they earn. Every paying customer deserves accurate bills.

FAQ

How many Nigerian electricity consumers are still without meters?

About 5.1 million active electricity customers were still without prepaid meters as of February 2026.

What is Nigeria’s current electricity metering rate?

Nigeria’s metering rate stood at 58.57 per cent in February 2026.

Which Disco had the highest metering rate?

Eko Electricity Distribution Company recorded one of the highest rates at 87.62 per cent.

Which Disco had the lowest metering rate?

Yola Disco recorded the lowest metering rate at 31.86 per cent.

Why is estimated billing a problem?

Estimated billing creates disputes because many customers feel they are being charged for power they did not consume.