FG to deploy 7 million electricity meters to end estimated billing
By Aboki Forex —
The Federal Government says it will deploy seven million electricity meters across Nigeria. The goal is to stop estimated billing and improve transparency in the power sector.
The Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, announced this at an energy conference in Lagos. The event was organised by the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce.
Verheijen said the meters will be distributed through the Presidential Metering Initiative and a World Bank supported programme. She stated that metering protects consumers and reduces estimated billing. It also builds the commercial discipline needed for investment.
National metering coverage has now reached about 57%. This shows progress in closing the metering gap that has affected millions of electricity customers.
The government believes wider metering will stop distribution companies from charging arbitrary bills. It will also help the companies improve revenue collection. This stability is expected to attract more investment into the sector.
Estimated billing has been a major source of conflict between customers and power distributors for years. Officials say the new metering drive will help rebuild trust and improve service delivery.
As part of broader reforms, the government has also approved a debt reduction scheme worth up to N4 trillion. This will clear verified debts owed to electricity generation companies and gas suppliers.