N30 BILLION FOR BAND A AND BAND B: EVERY UNMETERED BAND A CUSTOMER MUST GET A METER NOW
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS –NERC Orders DisCos: No More Estimated Bills For Band A, Fast Track Meters For Band B
NIGERIA –If you are in Band A, listen well. Your days of estimated billing are over.
If you are in Band B, your turn is coming, and it is coming fast.
NERC has spoken. And this time, it has put N30 billion behind its words.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved N30 billion for the DisCos to meter customers. The Order takes effect from 2 November 2026. It governs Tranche C of the Meter Acquisition Fund, MAF. It is Order No. NERC/2026/121.
This is not a vague promise. This is the third tranche of the Presidential Metering Initiative. A transparent framework. A clear mission: accelerate the closure of Nigeria’s metering gap.
Here is how it works.
The N30 billion will be shared among the eleven DisCos, in proportion to their contributions to the Fund. Every DisCo gets its fair share. Every DisCo carries its fair burden.
And the target is written in black and white: Meter ALL remaining unmetered Band A customers. Speed up the metering of Band B customers. Distribute equitably across states within each DisCo franchise area.
Band A first. Band B next. No state cheated. No community forgotten.
And the procurement? Transparent. DisCos must carry out transparent procurement involving eligible Local Meter Manufacturers and Assemblers, LMMAs, and Meter Asset Providers, MAPs, with verified meter stock. No ghost meters. No paper contracts. Real meters, made and supplied by verified players.
For too long, Band A customers paid premium tariffs and still got estimated bills. For too long, Band B customers waited in line while bills piled up. That injustice ends now.
NERC has drawn the line. The money is approved. The Order is out. The meters must flow.
THE APPROVAL:
“The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved ₦30 billion for the electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) to meter customers, under an Order that takes effect from 2 November 2026 and governs the third tranche of the Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF).”
THE ORDER:
“The Commission announced this in Order No. NERC/2026/121 on the Operationalisation of Tranche C of the MAF made available on Tuesday.”
THE FRAMEWORK:
“The Order sets out a transparent framework for implementing the third tranche of the Presidential Metering Initiative, which is aimed at accelerating the closure of Nigeria’s metering gap.”
HOW THE MONEY WILL BE SHARED:
“The ₦30 billion will be shared among the eleven Distribution Companies (DisCos) in proportion to their contributions to the Fund.”
WHO GETS METERED FIRST:
“It is meant to meter all remaining unmetered Band A customers and speed up the metering of Band B customers, with equitable distribution across states within each DisCo’s franchise area.”
THE PROCUREMENT RULE:
“Under the Order, DisCos must carry out transparent procurement involving eligible Local Meter Manufacturers and Assemblers (LMMAs) and Meter Asset Providers (MAPs) with verified meter stock.”
THE BOTTOM LINE: Band A: every remaining unmetered customer must be metered. Band B: metering must be speeded up. N30 billion is ready. Estimated billing must die.
The Commission has set maximum procurement prices based on the median national MAP online bid prices from the September 2026 bid cycle. Selected providers will be paid in two stages: 70 per cent on verified delivery of meter stock and the remaining 30 per cent on confirmation of complete installation.
NERC reiterated that all meters supplied and installed under the MAF programme must be provided free of charge to customers. Every meter must prominently display the DisCo’s name, the applicable MAF tranche and the inscription “NOT FOR SALE”. Where a DisCo relocates an existing customer’s connection point for revenue protection purposes, the DisCo will bear the cost. The Order also provides sanctions where DisCo defaults hinder meter installation.
To ensure accountability and transparency, the Order prescribes monitoring, reporting and evaluation requirements for the Fund Manager, the DisCos and participating meter providers. All supply and installation contracts must be filed with the Commission, and all Tranche C installations must be completed on or before 31 May 2027.
The Commission urged all stakeholders to comply strictly with the Order, which it said reinforces its commitment to closing the national metering gap, improving revenue assurance, enhancing service delivery and protecting electricity consumers.
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