The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has clarified that not all electricity meters currently being deployed nationwide are free, amid growing confusion over the Federal Government’s metering programmes and recent warnings against illegal charges by electricity distribution companies (DisCos).Speaking on Saturday during a radio interview on Fresh FM with Adeola Samuel-Ilori, NERC Chairman, Musiliu Oseni, explained that only meters provided under government-funded initiatives are free at the point of installation. Other options remain available for customers who are unwilling or unable to wait for the free rollout.According to Oseni, meters supplied through the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) are fully funded by the Federal Government and must be installed at no cost to consumers. However, customers who feel the deployment process is taking too long may opt to pay for meters under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme.“The meter provided by the government is 100 per cent free. DISREP meters are paid for by the government and must be given to customers at no cost,” Oseni said. He added that although DisCos would eventually repay the funds, the loans attract minimal interest and would not result in upfront charges to customers.He stressed that DisCos are prohibited from collecting any payment for meters deployed under DISREP, noting that cost recovery is embedded in tariffs and not through direct charges.“If you receive a free meter, you are not to pay anything. No DisCo is allowed to collect money from customers for a DISREP meter,” he stated.Oseni noted that the MAP scheme remains active for customers who cannot wait for the free installations due to timing or logistical challenges. Such customers, he said, must ensure payments are made directly to approved companies and not individuals.He also urged consumers to remain vigilant, explaining that DISREP meters are clearly marked. “After the name of the DisCo, you will see the inscription ‘DISREP’ on the free meters,” he said.The NERC chairman explained that the commission introduced several initiatives to close Nigeria’s metering gap after discovering that DisCos were struggling to access financing.“We realised that given their financial situation, it was difficult for DisCos to attract bank financing. That is why we introduced some of these initiatives,” Oseni said.He added that customers who previously paid upfront for meters under approved schemes were entitled to refunds, while those receiving free meters would recover costs indirectly through tariffs.The clarification follows a recent warning by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, during an inspection of newly imported smart meters at APM Terminals in Apapa, Lagos. Adelabu said the meters, procured under the World Bank-funded DISREP, must be installed for consumers free of charge, regardless of tariff band.“It is an offence for any DisCo official or installer to demand money before installation,” the minister warned.Despite the directive, some DisCos raised concerns, arguing that although customers would not pay upfront, the financial burden of meter procurement and installation would still fall on them over time.Some operators, who spoke anonymously, described the policy as politically motivated and lacking sufficient consultation with key stakeholders, including installers and manufacturers.However, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) clarified that electricity consumers would ultimately pay for meters through tariffs, just as they do for other infrastructure investments.Reacting to claims that DisCos were being made to repay meter costs over a 10-year period, BPE Director-General, Ayo Gbeleyi, dismissed the reports as misleading.“Every investment made by DisCos is recovered through tariffs—whether it is a transformer, feeder pillar, or meter. Consumers ultimately pay through the tariff structure,” he said.Gbeleyi reiterated that customers are not expected to make direct payments for meters, especially unmetered consumers, noting that about 5.9 million Nigerians are still without prepaid meters.Oseni also recalled that President Bola Tinubu had pledged during his campaign to close the country’s metering gap, adding that DISREP marked the beginning of that effort. He revealed that a presidential metering initiative is also underway, with procurement still ongoing under the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Energy.Since the announcement of the free meter initiative, many customers have questioned why some meters still attract charges, but NERC’s clarification appears to have addressed the confusion.Not All Electricity Meters Are Free, NERC ExplainsThe Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has clarified that not all electricity meters currently being deployed nationwide are free, amid growing confusion over the Federal Government’s metering programmes and recent warnings against illegal charges by electricity distribution companies (DisCos).Speaking on Saturday during a radio interview on Fresh FM with Adeola Samuel-Ilori, NERC Chairman, Musiliu Oseni, explained that only meters provided under government-funded initiatives are free at the point of installation. Other options remain available for customers who are unwilling or unable to wait for the free rollout.According to Oseni, meters supplied through the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) are fully funded by the Federal Government and must be installed at no cost to consumers. However, customers who feel the deployment process is taking too long may opt to pay for meters under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme.“The meter provided by the government is 100 per cent free. DISREP meters are paid for by the government and must be given to customers at no cost,” Oseni said. He added that although DisCos would eventually repay the funds, the loans attract minimal interest and would not result in upfront charges to customers.He stressed that DisCos are prohibited from collecting any payment for meters deployed under DISREP, noting that cost recovery is embedded in tariffs and not through direct charges.“If you receive a free meter, you are not to pay anything. No DisCo is allowed to collect money from customers for a DISREP meter,” he stated.Oseni noted that the MAP scheme remains active for customers who cannot wait for the free installations due to timing or logistical challenges. Such customers, he said, must ensure payments are made directly to approved companies and not individuals.He also urged consumers to remain vigilant, explaining that DISREP meters are clearly marked. “After the name of the DisCo, you will see the inscription ‘DISREP’ on the free meters,” he said.The NERC chairman explained that the commission introduced several initiatives to close Nigeria’s metering gap after discovering that DisCos were struggling to access financing.“We realised that given their financial situation, it was difficult for DisCos to attract bank financing. That is why we introduced some of these initiatives,” Oseni said.He added that customers who previously paid upfront for meters under approved schemes were entitled to refunds, while those receiving free meters would recover costs indirectly through tariffs.The clarification follows a recent warning by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, during an inspection of newly imported smart meters at APM Terminals in Apapa, Lagos. Adelabu said the meters, procured under the World Bank-funded DISREP, must be installed for consumers free of charge, regardless of tariff band.“It is an offence for any DisCo official or installer to demand money before installation,” the minister warned.Despite the directive, some DisCos raised concerns, arguing that although customers would not pay upfront, the financial burden of meter procurement and installation would still fall on them over time.Some operators, who spoke anonymously, described the policy as politically motivated and lacking sufficient consultation with key stakeholders, including installers and manufacturers.However, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) clarified that electricity consumers would ultimately pay for meters through tariffs, just as they do for other infrastructure investments.Reacting to claims that DisCos were being made to repay meter costs over a 10-year period, BPE Director-General, Ayo Gbeleyi, dismissed the reports as misleading.“Every investment made by DisCos is recovered through tariffs—whether it is a transformer, feeder pillar, or meter. Consumers ultimately pay through the tariff structure,” he said.Gbeleyi reiterated that customers are not expected to make direct payments for meters, especially unmetered consumers, noting that about 5.9 million Nigerians are still without prepaid meters.Oseni also recalled that President Bola Tinubu had pledged during his campaign to close the country’s metering gap, adding that DISREP marked the beginning of that effort. He revealed that a presidential metering initiative is also underway, with procurement still ongoing under the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Energy.Since the announcement of the free meter initiative, many customers have questioned why some meters still attract charges, but NERC’s clarification appears to have addressed the confusion.
