The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is commanding national business headlines after issuing Order No. NERC/2026/089, approving a fresh ₦30 billion allocation under Tranche 3 of the Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF).
The regulatory intervention aims to accelerate grid transparency and eliminate arbitrary estimated billing across Nigeria's 11 Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos):
- Priority Metering for Band A & B Consumers: The ₦30 billion tranche is distributed across all 11 DisCos in proportion to their historical financial contributions to the MAF. The order mandatorily targets the complete closure of the metering gap for remaining unmetered Band A customers(who receive a minimum 20-hour daily supply) before accelerating deployments to Band B consumers.
- Mandatory "Free of Charge" Distribution: NERC explicitly ruled that all meters procured and installed under the MAF framework must be provided at zero cost to end-user electricity consumers. Every physical meter unit is required to carry a prominent, permanent inscription reading "Property of DisCo – Not for Sale" alongside its tranche tracking code.
- Boosting Local Meter Manufacturing: Under the order's procurement terms, DisCos must engage certified Local Meter Manufacturers and Assemblers (LMMAs) and Meter Asset Providers (MAPs). Payments are structured on a milestone basis—70% paid upon verified stock delivery and the remaining 30% upon verified field installation—injecting vital liquidity into domestic manufacturing hubs.
Sources: The Guardian Nigeria, Punch Newspapers, Daily Trust, Gazette Nigeria
#NERC #MeteringGap #BandA #DisCos #MAF #NigeriaPower #EnergyPolicy
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