About 4.85 million electricity customers across Nigeria remain without prepaid meters despite the distribution of more than 308,000 meters by Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) between May and June 2026.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) disclosed this in its latest Metering Status of Distribution Companies Factsheet covering May and June 2026.
According to the report, the number of active electricity customers increased by 0.55 per cent, rising from 12.52 million in May to 12.59 million in June.
NERC said 7,743,839 customers had been metered by the end of June, leaving approximately 4.85 million customers dependent on estimated billing.
The regulator described the figures as evidence of “continued progress in customer metering across the country,” noting that DisCos were working to reduce the metering gap and reliance on estimated electricity bills.
Eko Electricity Distribution Company recorded the highest metering rate among the DisCos at 88.70 per cent, followed by Ikeja Electric at 87.91 per cent.
Abuja Electricity Distribution Company also recorded a metering rate of 81.38 per cent.
The Federal Government has said about 60 per cent of active electricity customers nationwide have been metered, with additional installations ongoing under Phase 1 of the $500 million World Bank-financed Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP).
The government is also implementing the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), coordinated by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), as part of efforts to close the country’s metering gap and eliminate arbitrary estimated billing for electricity customers.
Providing an update on the initiative, BPE Director-General Ayodeji Gbeleyi said 668,000 meters had so far been deployed and installed at customers’ premises out of 1.033 million meters delivered to the country.
“We have implemented 60 per cent of the meters that have been delivered in the country out of 1,033,000. So far, we have deployed and installed 668,000 meters on customers’ premises,” Gbeleyi said.
Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the government was working with relevant stakeholders to ensure Nigerians receive better value from essential services.
“We are working concertedly and in a very collaborative manner to ensure that we give value, either in electricity or in telecoms—whichever area—to make sure that Nigerians benefit from this government,” Tegbe said.
The latest figures highlight the government’s continued efforts to expand electricity metering nationwide, although millions of customers remain without meters.
