Free Meters Trouble Begins

Free Meters Trouble Begins

Power distribution companies have begun limiting the rollout of newly imported free electricity meters to Band A customers, raising concerns over compliance with a federal directive.

The move affects consumers across several states, despite assurances that the meters were meant for all users.

Reports from affected areas show that residents seeking prepaid meters were told the free units were not available to them unless they belonged to the top tariff band.

In Ogun State, a consumer said he was informed the meters were reserved only for Band A users and that he would need to pay about ₦1.45 million to get others installed.

Another resident claimed a DisCo official asked for ₦30,000 as a processing fee for a single-phase meter.

This development comes after the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, directed DisCos to distribute the 1.5 million meters imported under the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme at no cost.

He stated that the meters should reach customers across all tariff bands, without installation or processing fees. DisCos later pushed back, describing the order as a “political statement” and warning that installation and logistics costs would worsen their financial strain.

Despite the setback, the Federal Government insists it will close Nigeria’s metering gap through multiple programmes.

Plans are underway to deliver millions of meters through the Presidential Metering Initiative and other schemes, even as official data show that nearly half of electricity users are still on estimated billing.