The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has explained that while some electricity meters are free under government-funded programmes, others still require payment, depending on the scheme.
Speaking during a radio interview on Saturday, NERC Chairman Musiliu Oseni said meters provided through the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) are fully funded by the Federal Government and must be installed at no cost to customers. He stressed that electricity distribution companies (DisCos) are prohibited from demanding payment for these meters.
“The meter provided by the government is 100 per cent free. DISREP meters are free because they are paid for by the government. No DisCo is allowed to collect money from customers for these meters,” Oseni said.
He added that customers who cannot wait for the rollout of free meters may opt for the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme, which allows them to pay for meters directly through approved companies.
Oseni advised consumers to be vigilant, noting that free meters can be identified by the inscription “DISREP” after the name of the DisCo. He also confirmed that customers who previously paid upfront for meters under approved arrangements are entitled to refunds.
The clarification comes after the Federal Government banned DisCos and installers from collecting payments for meters, with Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu warning that any demand for money before installation is illegal.
Despite this, some operators expressed concern about cost recovery, arguing that while customers may not pay upfront, DisCos would eventually bear the financial burden. The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) later clarified that consumers ultimately pay for infrastructure, including meters, through tariffs, not direct charges.
Nigeria currently has about 5.9 million unmetered customers, and President Bola Tinubu has pledged to close the gap through initiatives like DISREP and a presidential metering programme still in procurement.
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