Power Distribution Companies reject FG’s free meter initiative
Power distribution companies (DisCos) in Nigeria have rejected the Federal Government’s proposed free electricity meter programme, raising fresh concerns over efforts to close the country’s metering gap and curb estimated billing.
The DisCos, under the umbrella of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), argued that the plan was not adequately discussed with key industry stakeholders and could further strain the already fragile power sector.
According to the operators, electricity meters are part of the regulated assets of distribution companies and any plan to procure and distribute them outside existing frameworks could undermine established market structures. They warned that the initiative may create accountability and maintenance challenges, while also complicating asset ownership and cost recovery.
The Federal Government had announced the free meter plan as part of measures to accelerate metering of electricity consumers nationwide, improve transparency in billing, and protect customers from arbitrary charges. Millions of electricity users across the country are currently unmetered, relying on estimated billing.
However, the DisCos insist that metering should be carried out through existing schemes such as the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) and National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP), which they say already provide structured and sustainable pathways for meter deployment.
Industry analysts note that the rejection sets the stage for another round of negotiations between the Federal Government, regulators, and electricity distribution companies, as pressure mounts from consumers demanding fair billing and improved power supply.
As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Ministry of Power and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had yet to issue an official response to the DisCos’ position.
