The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has officially backed the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC) following the announcement of new measures designed to eliminate estimated billing and improve consumer protection.
In a statement released by Director of Corporate Affairs Ondaje Ijagwu, the FCCPC welcomed the 2025 Lagos Electricity Market Report, which outlines a phased enforcement of legal provisions against unmetered electricity supply.
Key Reform Measures
The LASERC roadmap includes several strategic initiatives scheduled to begin in the near future:
- Compulsory Metering: Phased enforcement of mandatory metering starting in 2026.
- Smart Meter Rollout: A feeder-by-feeder deployment of universal smart meters across the state.
- Regulatory Oversight: Increased monitoring of distribution companies (DisCos) and stricter enforcement against non-compliant operators.
- Dispute Resolution: Implementation of improved standards for resolving consumer complaints.
Addressing Consumer Grievances
Mr. Tunji Bello, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the FCCPC, characterized the initiative as a vital move for market accountability. He noted that estimated billing remains a primary source of friction between consumers and providers in Nigeria’s power sector.
”Consumers should be protected from unfair or unverifiable billing practices,” Bello stated. “Effective metering promotes fairness, reduces disputes, and gives consumers greater confidence in the system.”
Call for National Adoption
The FCCPC head urged other subnational governments and state regulators to emulate the Lagos model. He emphasized that as more states implement electricity market reforms, they must prioritize transparent metering frameworks and clear service standards.
Bello further called on electricity distribution companies to cooperate fully with these new regulatory mandates to bridge existing service delivery gaps.
The FCCPC reaffirmed its commitment to working with stakeholders to ensure transparency and infrastructure investment remain priorities in the national electricity sector.
