Nigeria's electricity metering rate rises to 63.1% as unmetered customers drop to 4.7 million
Nigeria's electricity metering rate increased to 63.1% in August 2026 from 62.4% in July, according to NERC data.
In Brief
- •Nigeria's electricity metering rate increased to 63.1% in August 2026 from 62.4% in July, according to NERC data.
- •The number of unmetered electricity customers decreased to 4.7 million in August from 12.6 million in July.
- •Metered customers rose by 1.8% to 8.045 million in August, while new metered customers declined by 11.8% to 141,746.
- •The total number of active electricity customers increased by 0.6% to 12.75 million in August.
- •Eko Electricity Distribution Company recorded the highest metering rate at 89.6%, while Jos DisCo had the lowest at 37.6%.
Why It Matters
The increase in Nigeria's electricity metering rate is a significant step towards improving the country's electricity billing system. By reducing the number of unmetered customers, the government aims to address the issue of arbitrary estimated billing, which has been a major challenge in the electricity sector. This development is crucial for ensuring transparency and fairness in electricity billing, as well as for improving the overall reliability of the power supply.
Key Details
- Metering Rate
- 63.1%
- Unmetered Customers
- 4.7 million
- Metered Customers
- 8.045 million
- New Metered Customers
- 141,746
- Active Electricity Customers
- 12.75 million
- Highest Metering Rate
- 89.6% (Eko Electricity Distribution Company)
- Lowest Metering Rate
- 37.6% (Jos DisCo)
Context & Background
The issue of arbitrary estimated billing in Nigeria's electricity sector has been a longstanding challenge, driven by the lack of access to prepaid meters for a significant portion of registered electricity customers. This has forced distribution companies to rely on estimates rather than actual consumption when calculating bills.
Original Reporting & Sources
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