- The NESI metering status in the Meter Access Fund shows that out of 13,233,897 customers, Nigeria has 56% unmetered customers, with only 44% metered.
- The Presidential Metering Initiatives plan to install about 2.5 million meters yearly for five years.
The Meter Access Fund, which facilitates easy access to meter acquisition by electricity distribution companies (Discos), has hit N30 billion. According to a source in one of the agencies under the Ministry of Power, the Meter Access Fund acts as a seed fund to serve as collateral for metering companies.
Furthermore, the source explained that every customer indirectly contributes 75 kobo to the fund to serve as security for the meter fund. “Whatever happens to your meter, the fund will pay for it. Indirectly, every customer contributes to the fund,” the source added.
However, metering status in the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) shows that out of 13,233,897 customers, Nigeria has 56 per cent unmetered customers and 44 per cent of metered customers. In addition, some contributing factors to the meter shortfall include customer enumeration, funding gap and unauthorised access. There is also an increasing number of meters bypassed and tampered with.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, had explained that the Presidential Metering Initiatives plan to install about 2.5 million meters yearly for the next five years. According to him, the initial focus is to close significant metering gaps, emphasising the necessity for collaboration among all stakeholders.