Abuja, July 10, 2025
The Nigerian electricity industry is facing a customer backlash, with regulatory bodies reporting a troubling rise in consumer grievances due to faulty meters and billing errors.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) revealed that over 1.22 million complaints were lodged in 2023, with metering issues and overbilling accounting for more than 69% of all reports received. During just the third quarter of 2023, 334,000 grievances, including disputes over inaccurate bills and faulty meter readings, were filed across the nation.
Experts and regulators have pointed to the prevalence of estimated billing, often triggered when prepaid meters malfunction or are unavailable. In 2024, NERC noted that more than 7 million households remained unmetered, resulting in widespread billing estimations and consumer dissatisfaction .
Regulatory responses have intensified, with the Commission issuing stern advisories reminding Distribution Companies (DisCos) that customers should not bear replacement costs for faulty meters, these must be funded by utilities as stipulated by regulations.
Additionally, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has condemned perceived systemic failures and a “culture of impunity” within Disco operations, citing persistent complaints related to metering neglect, transformer breakdowns, and non-transparent billing practices.