The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved N30bn for the third phase of the Meter Acquisition Fund to provide electricity meters for unmetered Band A customers and expand coverage among Band B consumers.
The commission also directed electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to complete all installations under the programme by May 31, 2027, warning that customers must not be charged for the meters.
The approval was announced in Order No. NERC/2026/121 on the operationalisation of Tranche C of the Meter Acquisition Fund, which took effect on November 2, 2026. NERC said the funds would be shared among the 11 DisCos according to their respective contributions to the fund.
The initiative is part of the Federal Government’s Presidential Metering Initiative, which aims to address the country’s electricity metering gap, protect consumers from estimated billing and improve accountability in power distribution.
Under the arrangement, DisCos must conduct transparent procurement exercises involving eligible local meter manufacturers, assemblers and Meter Asset Providers with verified stocks. NERC has also set maximum procurement prices based on median national bids submitted during the September 2026 bidding cycle.
To ensure accountability, the commission introduced a two-stage payment system. Providers will receive 70 per cent of their contract payments after verification of delivered meter stocks, while the remaining 30 per cent will be released after installation is confirmed.
NERC reiterated that all meters supplied under the programme must be free and carry the inscription “NOT FOR SALE”, alongside the relevant DisCo’s name and funding tranche. It also directed DisCos to bear the cost of relocating customer connection points when initiated for revenue protection and provided for sanctions where their defaults delay installations.
