• NERC puts active electricity customers in Nigeria at 11.96m
President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, in Abuja, restated his administration’s strong commitment to the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), assuring technical partners, Siemens Energy, of full government backing to improve electricity supply and enhance the livelihoods of Nigerians.
This was due to the increase in the number of active electricity customers nationwide, from 11.89 million in July to 11.96 million in August 2025, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
While hosting a Siemens Energy delegation at the State House, Abuja, led by Dietmar Siersdorfer, the Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, the President stated that power remains the backbone of Nigeria’s economic recovery, particularly for industrial, educational, and healthcare development.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and Special Adviser on Energy, Olu Verheijen, attended the meeting.
“There is no industrial growth or economic development without power. I believe that power is the most significant discovery of humanity in the last 1,000 years,” Tinubu said. He acknowledged progress under the PPI so far, but stressed that more must be achieved to meet the country’s ambitious targets.
“We feel the impact, but we are not where we want to be. We appreciate the support and commitment of the German government and Siemens,” he added.
Tinubu also directed the expansion of major transformer substations from two to three phases to boost transmission capacity nationwide.
On his part, Adelabu highlighted major reforms and investments under the Tinubu administration, including the decentralisation and liberalisation of the electricity sector following the signing of the Electricity Act 2023.
He said the Act facilitated the development of a National Integrated Electricity Policy and attracted over $2.2 billion in new investment, while enabling the activation of 15 state electricity markets.
RELEASED via its official X and Instagram handles, yesterday, the Commission’s latest Metering Factsheet for July and August 2025, noted that the updated active consumers data spread across all 11 electricity distribution companies (DisCos) in the country.
“Out of these, 6.58 million customers were metered, resulting in a metering rate of 55.01 per cent, up slightly from 54.71 per cent in July. A total of 70,888 customers were newly metered in August, compared to 76,783 in July, reflecting ongoing metering efforts across the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI),” the regulator stated.
The Guardian gathered that the improved metering figures reflect ongoing reforms and investments in customer management by DisCos, aimed at enhancing billing transparency and consumer trust, according to NERC.
Eko, Ikeja and Abuja DisCos were ranked among the top performers in metering coverage nationwide. Eko DisCo recorded a metering rate of 84.25 per cent, Ikeja DisCo 84.83 per cent, while Abuja DisCo stood at 73.92 per cent.
In April, NERC reportedly penalised eight DisCos – including Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Ikeja Electric (IE), Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC), Kaduna Electric, Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) and Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) – for failing to adhere to the monthly energy caps imposed on estimated billing for unmetered customers.
The Commission imposed a combined fine of over N628 million on the eight DisCos. In addition to the monetary penalties, NERC directed each company to provide credit adjustments to all customers affected by the incident.
Earlier, NERC reported that DisCos installed 225,631 meters in the second quarter of 2025, marking a 20.55 per cent increase compared to the 187,161 meters installed in the first quarter of the year.
