Urgent Call for Prepaid Meters in Nigeria's Power Sector

In Kugbo, a community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), residents are increasingly anxious about their monthly electricity bills, particularly those without prepaid meters who receive estimated bills. These bills often exceed ₦30,000 monthly despite frequent power outages, leading to complaints of excessive charges disconnected from actual consumption.

Mr. Samuel Eze highlighted the disparity, noting that households with prepaid meters pay only for their actual usage. Mrs. Aisha Mohammed urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to ensure that electricity distribution companies provide prepaid meters to customers who have applied for them.

Experts assert that prepaid meters are vital consumer protection tools, eliminating arbitrary billing and promoting transparency. Engr. Abass Oyindamola emphasized that widespread metering benefits distribution companies by improving revenue collection and reducing energy theft.

Although NERC has introduced energy caps to limit excessive charges for estimated billing, many consumers still find these bills significantly higher than their actual electricity consumption.