Power
Nigeria targets 750,000 meter installations for 2027
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has announced a target of 750,000 meter installations for 2027 to address the country's metering deficit.
Key points
- NERC released its metering factsheet on October 14, 2026, outlining the 2027 deployment target.
- Nigeria had 12.75 million active electricity customers as of August 2026, with a metering coverage rate of 63.10 per cent.
- Several initiatives support the rollout, including the Meter Asset Provider scheme and the National Mass Metering Programme.
What happened
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has announced plans to deploy 750,000 electricity meters starting in 2027 under the Presidential Metering Initiative, according to a NERC factsheet released on October 14, 2026. The rollout aims to improve billing transparency and reduce estimated billing across the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
Data from NERC shows that out of 12.75 million active electricity customers recorded in August 2026, 8.05 million were metered. This leaves roughly 4.7 million unmetered customers. While the upcoming 2027 target will address part of the deficit, further deployments will be needed to achieve complete coverage.
Why it matters
Metering coverage directly affects revenue collection and operational efficiency for distribution companies. World Bank data from 2024 notes that electricity access in Nigeria stands at 62.5 percent of the population, with per capita electricity consumption at 140.6 kWh, significantly below global averages.
Various frameworks support the broader metering strategy, including the Meter Asset Provider scheme, the National Mass Metering Programme, the Meter Acquisition Fund, and the World Bank-supported Distribution Sector Recovery Programme. NERC has not yet detailed how the 750,000 meters will be allocated among distribution companies or specified target communities.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Grids decide whether generation becomes power that homes and businesses can rely on. Generation mix, transmission and distribution losses, and tariffs together shape reliability and the case for investment.
62.5% of people in Nigeria had electricity in 2024Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
