Lagos Electricity Consumers Get Meter Repair Protection As NERC Warns Discos

By Sherif Salau

Lagos electricity consumers now have clearer protection against prolonged meter failures and wrongful disconnections after the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) issued a firm directive to distribution companies.

In a metering fact sheet released this week, NERC ordered DisCos to repair or replace any faulty meter within 48 hours of a customer lodging a complaint. The commission said the rule is designed to help households and businesses keep accurate track of their consumption and cut down on the billing disputes that often follow broken or malfunctioning meters.

The same document goes further on disconnections. Customers who are cut off without following due process cannot be charged a reconnection fee. Beyond that, they are entitled to energy credits calculated on their average daily consumption over the previous three months — for every day they remain without power.

The rules apply nationwide, including to the two DisCos that serve Lagos: Ikeja Electric and Eko Electricity Distribution Company. For many residents who have waited days or weeks for meter technicians to appear, the 48-hour deadline offers a concrete benchmark against which to measure service.

NERC also restated timelines for new meter installations under the Meter Asset Provider scheme. Customers who pay fully upfront must receive their meters within 10 days. Credits for those meters are to be spread over 120 months and cannot be used to offset existing debts. Meters provided under the Meter Acquisition Fund and the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme must be installed free of charge.

The commission encouraged consumers to report problems first to their DisCo’s customer service unit and keep proof of the complaint. If the issue remains unresolved after 15 days, the next step is the nearest NERC Forum Office, with further escalation possible to the commission’s headquarters or a state electricity regulatory commission where one exists.

For Lagos households already struggling with erratic supply and estimated billing, the new clarity on meter repairs and compensation is a practical step. Whether DisCos meet the 48-hour standard will now be closely watched — and, if necessary, enforced.