Electricity distribution companies (DisCos) installed a total of 357,495 electricity meters in the first quarter of 2026, representing a 10.4 per cent increase from the previous quarter and the highest quarterly deployment recorded in the last five quarters, according to the latest industry data released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The performance underscores growing momentum in the country’s efforts to bridge its longstanding metering gap, with the Federal Government’s Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) emerging as the single largest contributor to meter installations during the period.
According to NERC’s First Quarter 2026 Report, the 11 electricity distribution companies collectively metered 357,495 end-use customers between January and March 2026, compared with 323,864 meters installed in the fourth quarter of 2025, reflecting a quarter-on-quarter increase of 10.38 per cent.
The report showed that Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) recorded the highest number of installations, accounting for 20.35 per cent of all meters deployed during the quarter, while Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) followed with 14.08 per cent, making the two utilities the leading contributors to the nationwide metering exercise.
NERC noted that eight of the 11 distribution companies improved their metering performance during the review period, indicating broader progress across the sector.
Among the utilities, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company recorded the strongest growth in installations, posting a remarkable 119.53 per cent increase over the previous quarter. However, Kano, Enugu and Abuja DisCos experienced declines in quarterly installations of 94.81 per cent, 89.48 per cent and 10.42 per cent, respectively.
A breakdown of the deployment channels revealed that 129,224 meters, representing 36.14 per cent of total installations, were delivered under the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP), making it the largest metering intervention in the Nigerian electricity market.
The Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme accounted for 118,681 meters, or 33.19 per cent of the total installations, while the Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF) contributed 97,992 meters, representing 27.41 per cent.
In addition, 10,589 meters (2.96 per cent) were installed through the DisCo-financed framework, while 1,009 meters (0.28 per cent) were deployed under the Vendor-financed framework.
The commission said the growing contribution of DISREP reflects the increasing impact of government-backed interventions aimed at improving electricity distribution and addressing the country’s persistent metering deficit.
According to NERC, the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme is a Federal Government initiative supported by a $500m World Bank facility designed to strengthen the operational, technical and financial performance of Nigeria’s electricity distribution companies while accelerating the deployment of 3.2 million smart electricity meters nationwide.
The programme, which commenced meter installations in May 2025, has continued to expand rapidly. As of the end of the first quarter of 2026, a cumulative 217,784 smart meters had been deployed under DISREP.
During the first quarter alone, the programme delivered 129,224 meters, representing a 29.81 per cent increase over the 99,545 meters installed under the initiative in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Industry stakeholders have consistently identified the country’s metering gap as one of the major challenges facing Nigeria’s electricity supply industry.
The widespread deployment of prepaid smart meters is expected to reduce estimated billing, improve revenue collection for distribution companies, strengthen customer confidence and enhance transparency in electricity billing.
The latest figures suggest that ongoing government reforms and targeted investment programmes are beginning to yield measurable improvements, although sector experts maintain that sustained investments and accelerated meter deployment will be required to achieve universal metering and improve overall efficiency across Nigeria’s electricity distribution network.
(The Whistler)