By our Reporter
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has commended the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission for introducing consumer-focused reforms aimed at ending estimated billing in the Lagos electricity market.
The FCCPC, in a statement issued on Tuesday, specifically praised LASERC’s position in the 2025 Lagos Electricity Market Report supporting the enforcement of existing legal provisions on electricity supply without meters and the phased rollout of universal smart metering across the state.
According to the commission, LASERC’s reform programme is designed to strengthen consumer protection and improve electricity market performance in Lagos.
The reforms include phased enforcement of compulsory metering from 2026, feeder-by-feeder deployment of smart meters, stricter oversight of electricity distribution companies, improved complaint resolution systems and sanctions against non-compliant operators.
The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, described the initiative as a major step towards improving billing transparency and consumer confidence in the power sector.
“Estimated billing remains one of the leading sources of consumer complaints within Nigeria’s power sector. Measures that accelerate metering and improve billing transparency are important to consumer protection and overall market accountability,” Bello said.
He noted that consumers should not be subjected to unfair or unverifiable billing practices, especially where electricity consumption cannot be accurately measured.
According to him, effective metering promotes fairness, reduces disputes, improves accountability and boosts confidence in the electricity market.
Bello also urged other state electricity regulators and subnational governments to adopt similar reforms aimed at accelerating metering, improving service delivery oversight and reducing disputes linked to estimated billing.
“Lagos has taken an important step towards improving consumer protection and accountability within the electricity sector. Other states implementing electricity market reforms should also prioritise transparent metering frameworks, effective complaint resolution systems, and clear service standards,” he said.
The FCCPC boss further called on electricity distribution companies and other market participants to cooperate with metering initiatives and service improvement measures introduced by regulatory authorities.
The commission also noted findings in the LASERC report relating to service delivery gaps, complaint resolution performance and electricity supply challenges in Lagos State.
According to the FCCPC, the findings highlight the need for stronger consumer safeguards, improved infrastructure investment and sustained improvements in service delivery across the electricity sector.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to supporting initiatives that promote transparency, accountability and fair market practices through continued collaboration with regulators and stakeholders in the power sector.
