The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved ₦30 billion for free electricity meters for households and businesses, in a move aimed at closing Nigeria's long-running metering gap and ending estimated billing for millions of customers. The commission announced the approval in Abuja on Tuesday, 10 November 2026.

The funding covers the third tranche of the Meter Acquisition Fund, under Order No. NERC/2026/121 on the Operationalisation of Tranche C of the fund. The order took effect on 2 November 2026 and sets out a framework for the third phase of the Presidential Metering Initiative.

Who will get the free meters

The ₦30 billion will be shared among Nigeria's 11 electricity distribution companies (DisCos) in proportion to their respective contributions to the fund. The money is intended to provide meters for all remaining unmetered Band A customers and to accelerate metering for Band B customers, with installations spread fairly across states within each DisCo's franchise area.

NERC stressed that all meters supplied and installed under the programme must be provided free of charge to customers. Every meter must prominently display the name of the relevant DisCo, the applicable fund tranche and the inscription "NOT FOR SALE".

Deadline for installations

All meter installations under Tranche C must be completed on or before 31 May 2027. The commission has also directed the DisCos to run transparent procurement processes involving eligible local meter manufacturers and assemblers and meter asset providers with verified meter stock.

Maximum procurement prices have been set based on the median national meter asset provider online bid prices from the September 2026 bid cycle. Payment to selected providers will be made in two stages: 70 per cent on verified delivery of meter stock and the remaining 30 per cent on confirmation of complete installation.

Protections for consumers

To strengthen accountability, the order sets out monitoring, reporting and evaluation requirements for the fund manager, the DisCos and participating meter providers, and requires all supply and installation contracts to be filed with the commission. It also provides for sanctions against DisCos whose defaults hold up meter installation.

Where a DisCo initiates the relocation of an existing customer's connection point for revenue protection purposes, the cost must be borne by the distribution company, not the customer. NERC said the measures reinforce its commitment to closing the national metering gap, improving revenue assurance, enhancing service delivery and protecting electricity consumers, and urged all stakeholders to comply strictly with the order.

For many Nigerian households, a meter means an end to estimated bills that bear little relation to the electricity actually used. The regulator's challenge now is delivery: turning the ₦30 billion approval into meters fitted in homes and shops, on time and free of charge, across all 11 distribution areas before the May 2027 deadline.