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 More than 5.36 million electricity customers across Nigeria continue to rely on estimated billing, as the country's metering gap persists despite ongoing efforts to install new devices.

According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission's (NERC) latest third-quarter 2025 report, released recently on its website, only 6.662 million out of 12.03 million registered customers were metered as of September 30, 2025. This translates to a metering rate of just 55.37 percent, leaving millions vulnerable to often controversial estimated bills from distribution companies (DisCos).In the July-to-September period, DisCos managed to install 228,614 new meters—a slight uptick of 0.73 percent from the 226,959 installed in the previous quarter. 

Standout performers included Ibadan, Aba, and Abuja DisCos, which together accounted for over 63 percent of the installations, with Aba seeing a remarkable 173 percent surge. However, progress was uneven: nine DisCos actually saw declines, with Port Harcourt and Jos recording sharp drops of over 60 percent each.

The bulk of the new meters—about 77 percent—came through the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) framework, which saw an 18 percent quarterly increase. Other contributions included vendor-financed installations and the emerging Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP), backed by a $500 million World Bank loan aimed at deploying 3.2 million smart meters.NERC highlighted initiatives like the Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF), which has allocated funds for prioritizing higher-paying Band A and B customers. Yet the regulator stressed that faster rollout is essential to curb billing disputes, improve revenue collection, and stabilize the sector.Consumer advocates have long criticized estimated billing for overcharging and inconsistency, and this latest data underscores how far Nigeria still has to go toward universal metering—a goal that has eluded the power sector for years.