Electricity sector experts have urged Nigeria to invest in local meter manufacturing, sustainable financing and smart technology adoption to accelerate meter deployment and address the country's metering deficit. The specialists made their case during a webinar focused on rapid meter rollout, emphasising that a coordinated national metering strategy would improve revenue collection, eliminate estimated billing and reduce electricity theft.
One electricity company disclosed that it had achieved over 90 per cent metering coverage and deployed more than 200,000 meters through the Meter Asset Provider scheme and vendor-financing model. The company is targeting 100 per cent metering coverage by extending installations to all customers across its transformers and feeders. According to the company, metering is a strategic investment in revenue assurance that allows customers to pay for the electricity they consume while reducing customer frustration caused by estimated billing.
Addressing anti-theft measures, the Head of Metering at Power Limited Electric Company said Abia Power is tackling energy theft, meter bypass and vandalism through routine inspections, remote monitoring, consumption-pattern analysis, customer education and dedicated revenue-protection teams. The approach reflects broader industry efforts to protect revenue and ensure reliable service.
India's experience offers a model for Nigeria's sector. According to a ratings director at CareEdge, government-backed programmes, private-sector investment and improved financing arrangements have accelerated smart-meter deployment in India. The Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, introduced in 2021, has been a major driver of investment and expansion in India's metering manufacturing capacity.
The President of the Meter Manufacturers Association of Nigeria called for a national metering plan that brings together the Federal and state governments, electricity distribution companies, investors, regulators and local manufacturers. Such coordination, experts argued, is essential to build the local manufacturing base and financing mechanisms needed to close Nigeria's metering gap.
For households and businesses, wider metering coverage means an end to estimated bills and clearer visibility of actual consumption, while improved revenue collection could strengthen the financial health of distribution companies and support sector investment.