By Peter Omopo
The Federal Government has directed electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) and approved meter installers to provide and install electricity meters for consumers at no cost, warning that any attempt to charge customers will attract prosecution.
The directive was disclosed in a post shared on the official X handle of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), quoting the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu.
According to the minister, electricity meters are “not for sale,” stressing that the Federal Government has already procured smart meters under the World Bank–funded Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP). He said charging consumers for the supply or installation of meters is illegal and will not be tolerated.
Adelabu explained that the DISREP initiative is designed to improve billing accuracy and enhance revenue collection across the power sector. Under the programme, the government plans to import a total of 3.4 million electricity meters, with about one million already delivered into the country.
He noted that full metering of electricity consumers will promote transparency in billing, boost consumers’ willingness to pay, and improve liquidity within the electricity value chain, ultimately leading to more reliable power supply nationwide.
The Federal Government warned DISCOs to comply strictly with the directive, adding that any effort to shortchange consumers would be treated as a serious offence and prosecuted accordingly.
