NERC Transfers Metering Disputes to State Agencies

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has announced a shift in the handling of metering and billing disputes to state-level electricity regulatory agencies. This decision follows the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023 and affects consumers in 15 states, including Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, and Plateau.

Under this new arrangement, consumers are required to engage directly with their respective state electricity regulatory agencies for complaints related to metering and billing issues, rather than escalating these disputes to the federal level. This reform aims to decentralize the electricity market and improve regulatory oversight at the state level, enhancing the responsiveness to consumer grievances, particularly concerning estimated billing, metering delays, and service quality.

NERC emphasized that this change is part of broader efforts to improve governance and efficiency in the electricity sector, ensuring that regulatory frameworks reflect the specific needs of individual states.