Faulty meters and billing errors drive 254,000 electricity complaints

Summary

• Nigerian electricity consumers lodge 254,000 complaints, largely over faulty meters
• Billing errors are a significant source of consumer dissatisfaction
• Issues highlight persistent challenges in the nation’s power sector

Abuja, Nigeria – In the first quarter of 2025, over 254,000 complaints were filed by Nigerian electricity consumers against distribution companies, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). The majority of grievances centred on faulty meters, inaccurate billing, and erratic power supply, issues that continue to plague the country’s electricity sector.

While the number represents a 7.72% decline from the 275,681 complaints recorded in the final quarter of 2024, the volume remains alarmingly high. Despite efforts to improve service, including the installation of 187,194 new meters during the quarter, more than half of registered electricity consumers, 53.02%, remain unmetered.

This widespread lack of metering has fuelled billing disputes, as many consumers are subjected to estimated charges that often do not reflect actual usage.

NERC’s report also revealed that only 37.27% of escalated complaints, 1,554 out of 4,169, were resolved, raising concerns about the efficiency and responsiveness of complaint resolution mechanisms.

Metering and billing problems alone accounted for 63% of complaints in the previous quarter, indicating that core issues remain unaddressed.

To reduce the burden on unmetered customers, NERC continues to enforce monthly energy caps based on feeder-level energy receipts. However, critics argue that these measures fall short of resolving the deeper systemic problems within the power distribution framework.

The latest figures is a stark reminder of the need for urgent reform in Nigeria’s electricity sector, particularly in metering infrastructure, billing transparency, and customer service delivery.