LAGOS FAULTS REGULATORS OVER UNMETERED ELECTRICITY CONSUMERS

The Lagos State Government has criticised electricity regulators over the continued failure to provide meters for all electricity consumers in the state.

The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye, said existing laws already require every electricity customer to be metered, stressing that the state had established the necessary legal and policy framework to support universal metering.

Ogunleye made the remarks while discussing the state’s electricity reforms and efforts to improve power supply.

He said the responsibility for enforcing the metering requirement rested with electricity regulators at both the federal and state levels.

The commissioner noted that the continued existence of unmetered customers could create challenges around accurate billing and consumer protection, particularly as electricity tariffs and service expectations continue to change.

Recent industry data indicate that millions of electricity consumers across Nigeria remain without meters, despite ongoing government interventions aimed at closing the metering gap.

Lagos has been pursuing greater control over its electricity market following the transfer of intrastate regulatory responsibilities to the state. The state activated its electricity regulatory regime in 2025 and has since pursued initiatives aimed at improving power supply and accountability within the sector.

The state government has also entered into agreements with power producers to increase electricity supply to public facilities, adopting a model in which payments are linked to electricity actually delivered and metered.

Ogunleye said stronger regulatory enforcement would be necessary to ensure that electricity consumers receive the protection provided under the law.

The government urged relevant regulators and distribution companies to accelerate the metering process and reduce reliance on estimated billing.

It maintained that universal metering would improve transparency, strengthen accountability and give consumers a clearer understanding of their electricity consumption and bills.

The development comes amid wider efforts by Lagos to reform its electricity market and improve reliability, while reducing longstanding challenges affecting consumers across the state.