The cost of a single-phase electricity meter in Nigeria has surged from N88,000 in the first quarter of the year to over N130,000, with prices now ranging between N130,000 and N139,000 depending on the vendor. Similarly, the cost of a three-phase meter has increased to between N219,000 and N229,000. This is the second time in 2023 that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved a price hike for prepaid meters.

Many consumers, particularly those who have yet to be metered, are voicing their frustration over what they consider to be exorbitant estimated bills issued by their Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos). These customers argue that the charges they receive do not correspond to the amount of electricity they actually consume. The lack of access to prepaid meters has left many feeling powerless, as they continue to be billed based on estimations rather than actual usage.

Further complicating matters, there are ongoing concerns about the implementation of the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) policy. This policy was supposed to ensure that consumers who paid for their meters would receive refunds through energy credits. However, many customers claim they have yet to see these promised refunds. Additionally, the Presidential Metering Initiative, which allocated N21 billion to provide free meters to unmetered customers, has been met with skepticism as the metering gap remains substantial, with seven million out of 13 million electricity customers still without meters.

Despite assurances from NERC and DisCos that measures are in place to prevent arbitrary billing, many consumers remain dissatisfied with the current state of electricity metering and billing in the country.