The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has clarified that electricity meters provided under the $500 million World Bank–funded Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) are free, warning consumers against any form of extortion by electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) or their agents.
Speaking at a media briefing on DISREP supply in Abuja, BPE Director-General, Dr Ayodeji Gbeleyi, said both the procurement and installation of the meters come at no cost to customers.
According to him, the Federal Government provided the meters to eliminate estimated billing in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) and improve transparency in electricity consumption.
“These meters are free, and their installation is also free. Customers should resist any attempt by DisCos to compel them to pay for DISREP meters,” Gbeleyi said.
When asked to further clarify the issue, the Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr Musliu Oseni, affirmed that the Federal Government had taken full responsibility for the cost of the meters.
“The government borrowed the money and procured these meters, instructing DisCos not to charge customers for them. Anyone demanding payment is engaging in extortion and should be reported,” Oseni said.
He explained that most cases of extortion occur between field staff or installers and customers, stressing that such actions are not sanctioned by DisCo management.
DISREP comprises two funding components — a $250 million Investment Project Financing facility for bulk procurement of about 3.2 million smart customer and retail meters, and another $250 million Programme-for-Results component.
Gbeleyi disclosed that 182,000 meters have already been installed nationwide under the programme, noting that the meters are primarily for unmetered customers. However, he added that DisCos have been allowed to deploy up to 20 per cent of the meters to replace faulty or expiring units.
Oseni further explained that while customers typically pay for meters provided directly by operators, the Federal Government has absorbed the cost of DISREP meters through the World Bank facility.
Describing any demand for payment for DISREP meters or their installation as illegal, the NERC chairman urged consumers to promptly report such cases to the commission.
On subsidy reforms, Oseni said changes would occur as states begin to assume greater control of electricity markets, adding that tariff timelines remain subject to government decisions.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engr Abdulaziz Sule, said the national metering gap has reduced from about 10 million to five million meters, revealing that the Federal Government has met 75 per cent of DISREP requirements, with 30 per cent of the meters already delivered to Nigeria.
Similarly, Acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), Dr Peter Asuben, said the agency tested 576,208 meters as of December 2025, with an additional 18,716 tested in January 2026.
Representing the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Dr Adedayo Olowoniyi said DISREP was introduced to strengthen electricity distribution and pledged that the current administration would close the metering gap.
“Under this administration, the metering gap will be eliminated,” he said.
DisCo executives present at the briefing, including Abuja DisCo Managing Director, Okwuokenye Chijioke, and Eko DisCo Managing Director, Wola Joseph Condotti, affirmed their support for DISREP, while acknowledging isolated cases of misconduct by individuals within the system.
Representatives of Ibadan, Kaduna, Yola and other DisCos also attended the event.