Electricity sector experts have called on Nigeria to increase local electricity meter manufacturing and secure sustainable financing to accelerate meter installation and address the country’s metering gap.

The experts made the call during a webinar on rapid meter rollout, where they stressed the need for a coordinated national metering plan, wider adoption of smart technology and improved funding arrangements.

According to them, expanding meter deployment would help electricity distribution companies improve revenue collection, reduce estimated billing and curb electricity theft.

The host of the webinar, Mr. Odion Omonfoman, disclosed that his company had achieved over 90 per cent metering coverage, with more than 200,000 meters deployed through the Meter Asset Provider scheme and vendor-financing model.

He said the company was targeting 100 per cent metering coverage by extending installations to all customers across its transformers and feeders.

Omonfoman explained that metering was a strategic investment that enables customers to pay for the electricity they consume while reducing dissatisfaction associated with estimated bills.

Also speaking, the Head of Metering at Power Limited Electric Company, Engr. Alegie Alfred, said Abia Power was tackling electricity theft, meter bypass and vandalism through routine inspections, remote monitoring, consumption-pattern analysis and customer education.

Drawing lessons from India, Ms. Ravleen Sethi, Director of Large Corporate Ratings at CareEdge, said government-backed programmes, private-sector investment and improved financing arrangements had accelerated smart-meter deployment in the country.

She identified India’s Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, introduced in 2021, as a major driver of investment and increased manufacturing capacity in the metering industry.

Meanwhile, the President of the Meter Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Engr. Durosola Omogbenigun, called for a national metering plan involving the Federal and state governments, electricity distribution companies, investors, regulators and local manufacturers.

The experts maintained that stronger local manufacturing capacity and sustainable financing would be essential to expanding meter access, improving electricity billing and strengthening Nigeria’s power sector.