No More Paying for Electricity Meters: FG Orders Free Installation Nationwide — A Transformative Policy for Nigeria’s Power Sector
Electricity metering has long been a critical and contentious issue in Nigeria’s power sector. For years, millions of Nigerians suffered from inaccurate billing, estimated charges, and additional costs imposed by Distribution Companies (DisCos) and installers for meter deployment. But today, a bold directive from the Federal Government promises to change that narrative entirely.
In a decisive policy move, Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, announced that electricity meters imported by the government must be distributed and installed completely free to all power consumers across the country — eliminating illegal charges and strengthening billing transparency in an industry long plagued by inefficiencies.
A Historic Policy Shift in Electricity Metering
During a high-profile inspection of newly imported smart meters at the APM Terminals in Apapa, Lagos, Minister Adebayo Adelabu reiterated that the Federal Government has secured millions of smart meters funded through the World Bank-supported Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) and will distribute and install them nationwide at no charge to consumers.
The policy marks a major shift from past practices where consumers sometimes paid for meters or installation through unofficial channels — often leading to extortion and corruption. What makes this directive unprecedented is not just the promise of free meters, but the firm stance that anyone demanding payment will be prosecuted.
Why the Free Meter Policy Matters
Nigeria’s electricity sector has long grappled with a massive metering gap. Prior to this policy, millions of households and businesses lacked formal meters, forcing DisCos to resort to estimated billing — a practice that often resulted in consumers receiving inflated electricity bills with no accountability or transparency.
Experts and consumer advocates argue that mass metering is the cornerstone of any functional power sector. Accurate metering helps:
Record actual electricity consumption
Eliminate inflated estimated bills
Improve transparency and customer trust
Boost DisCo revenue through better billing and collections
Attract investment due to increased data clarity
By mandating free installation, the government aims to remove one of the major barriers that have restricted widespread metering progress.
How Many Meters Are Being Delivered?
The government has outlined a multi-phase deployment plan under DISREP. According to public statements:
About 3.4 million smart meters are being procured in two batches.
The first phase includes 1.43 million meters, nearly one million of which have already arrived in the country.
A newly received batch of 500,000 smart meters was inspected during the recent announcement.
Approximately 150,000 meters from the first batch have already been installed across Nigeria.
The policy is designed to ensure that every Nigerian electricity customer, regardless of tariff band or location, qualifies for the free smart meter and its installation. This approach is historic in that it does not discriminate between urban or rural, high-income or low-income consumers — a critical step toward universal metering coverage.
Illegal Charges Are Now a Crime
In a stern warning that underscores the government’s seriousness, Minister Adelabu declared that any DisCo official or independent installer who attempts to charge consumers for meter installation is committing a criminal offence.
This policy responds directly to numerous complaints from consumers who have, in the past, been asked to pay money before getting meters installed on their premises. With this directive:
Any form of payment request for installation is now illegal.
Offenders will face prosecution, a strong deterrent that promises accountability and enforcement.
To support this enforcement, the government plans to establish customer complaint desks where citizens can report anyone demanding illegal fees. Complaints will be taken seriously and followed up with investigations.
Boosting Transparency & Consumer Confidence
The meters being distributed are modern smart meters, designed to provide accurate consumption data and eliminate disputes between consumers and DisCos over billing. Smart meters will help:
Provide real-time usage tracking
Reduce estimated billing
Encourage greater trust between customers and power providers
By eliminating cost at the point of installation, the government expects more consumers to willingly adopt metering — a step that will ultimately improve liquidity in the power sector as more customers pay based on accurate billing.
Addressing Past Challenges and Current Opportunities
Historically, Nigeria’s metering efforts have faced various challenges. Previous initiatives, such as the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) and other government programs, aimed to provide millions of prepaid meters but often ran into logistical, financial, or coordination issues.
Under the leadership of Minister Adelabu, the current strategy appears more structured and backed by significant funding and international support through DISREP. By setting clear directives and aligning government agencies — including NERC (Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission) and state regulatory authorities — the policy aims to overcome past bottlenecks and accelerate nationwide meter rollout.
Wider Power Sector Reforms & Future Outlook
This metering policy is part of broader reforms in Nigeria’s power sector aimed at ensuring efficiency, financial sustainability, and consumer satisfaction. In recent times, the government has also been discussing reforms such as cost-reflective tariffs, grid stabilization, and restructuring underperforming DisCos — all intended to make the sector more viable and responsive to consumer needs.
For power consumers, this new directive signals a positive shift. It’s a move toward:
Fair billing practices
Reduction of corrupt or predatory charging
Increased access to quality power infrastructure
What Nigerian Consumers Can Do Now
If you are a Nigerian electricity customer, here’s what you should know: ✔ You should not pay any amount to receive or install your electricity meter.
✔ If anyone (DisCo staff, contractor, or installer) asks for money, report them.
✔ Free meters are available for all categories of customers — not just select bands.
✔ Stay informed about installation schedules from your DisCo or local regulatory office.
Conclusion: A Step Toward Power Sector Transformation
The Federal Government’s directive mandating free electricity meters and installation for all marks a significant milestone in reforming Nigeria’s electricity distribution landscape. By outlawing illegal charges, prioritizing accurate billing, and leveraging international support, the policy lays the foundation for greater consumer trust, transparency, and improved financial performance in the sector.
With millions of smart meters set to be deployed nationwide, this initiative could be a game-changer, closing the long-standing metering gap and setting Nigeria on a path toward a more equitable and effective power system.
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