Key Points
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Nigeria has 700,000 electricity meters ready for nationwide distribution.
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Meter deployment will reduce estimated billing and improve transparency.
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DisCos must act quickly to install meters efficiently and fairly.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) said on Tuesday that there are between 600,000 and 700,000 electricity meters ready to be used across the country. They told power companies to speed up the rollout and help close the long-standing metering gap.
Musiliu Oseni, the Vice Chairman of NERC, said at the 4th NESI Stakeholders Meeting in Abuja that the government has already provided and paid for the meters. He urged Distribution Companies (DisCos) to speed up installations and raise public awareness.
Putting in 700,000 electricity meters all over the country
NERC’s announcement is a big step towards solving Nigeria’s ongoing problems in the power sector. For a long time, many customers have not had meters, which has led to estimated billing and revenue losses for DisCos. Regulators hope that these 700,000 meters will help speed up fair billing and openness.
Oseni made it clear that the government paid for the meters. He said, “There are currently 600,000 to 700,000 meters available in the country,” and he urged power distribution companies to speed up their deployment. He also said that good communication with customers and quick coordination with DisCos will be key to the rollout’s success.
The goal of the meter rollout is to put an end to problems with estimated billing
Energy experts say that the large number of ready-to-use meters shows that there is more pressure to lower estimated bills and boost consumer trust in the power sector. Many customers have lost faith in the electricity supply because they don’t have meters, which has led to unpredictable charges and billing disputes.
Many homes in Nigeria are hoping for clearer bills, less power theft, and more reliable service now that distributions are about to start. These are long-sought goals for Nigeria’s electricity users. Officials think that the meter drive could help collect a lot more money and help pay for improvements to the network’s infrastructure.
DisCos are under a lot of pressure to deliver quickly
There is meter stock available, but the success of the program depends on how well the Distribution Companies do their jobs. NERC has made it clear that DisCos are in charge of coordinating installations, letting customers know, and making sure that meters get to even the most remote areas.
Regulators say that delays or bad communication could hurt public trust and make the metering gap last longer. NERC said that this was not a time to be complacent. To stabilise Nigeria’s electricity sector and win back people’s trust, they need to deploy meters quickly and bill people clearly.
