National Assembly Launches Inquiry Into DisCos Over Aging Meters, Infrastructure Deficiencies

The House of Representatives has mandated its Committee on Power to investigate electricity distribution companies (DisCos) regarding their failure to replace outdated meters and improve essential infrastructure.

The inquiry will also examine the controversial practice of relying on consumer contributions for maintenance and equipment replacement, which has faced widespread criticism across the country.

In a resolution passed on Wednesday, the House urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to ensure strict compliance with its directive requiring DisCos to replace obsolete meters at no cost to consumers within a specified period.

Additionally, lawmakers called on the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, to prioritize funding and implement measures to incentivize the modernization of infrastructure such as transformers. These upgrades are aimed at reducing load-shedding and improving the quality of electricity supply nationwide.

The resolution stems from an urgent motion raised by Representative Nnamdi Ezechi, who drew attention to the persistent metering challenges and infrastructure issues plaguing Nigeria’s power distribution sector.

During his presentation, Rep. Ezechi highlighted the failure of DisCos to comply with NERC’s mandate on meter replacement, a shortfall that has resulted in over one million meters being decommissioned. This, he said, has placed undue financial strain on consumers already contending with unreliable electricity services.

Ezechi noted that many Nigerians who applied for meter upgrades months ago are still waiting for replacements. The delays have left consumers facing two expensive options: purchasing new meters for over ₦200,000 or paying as much as ₦500,000 for temporary direct connections that last only a few days.

He further criticized the trend of shifting the responsibility for maintaining critical infrastructure, like transformers, to consumers. Communities are often forced to fund repairs, replacements, and cable storage, despite these being the legal obligations of electricity distribution companies.

The lawmaker also decried the lack of investment in upgrading outdated infrastructure, such as transformers, which hampers effective load management and service delivery. In many cases, new transformers installed in communities are purchased through collective contributions rather than by the companies themselves.

Ezechi emphasized that the privatized electricity sector has failed to resolve these systemic issues, suggesting that monopolistic practices in the industry are undermining the goal of delivering affordable and reliable power to Nigerians.

While commending NERC’s recent directive requiring DisCos to replace outdated meters free of charge, Ezechi stressed the importance of ensuring compliance to improve metering accuracy and promote transparency in electricity billing.

The House adopted the motion, directing electricity distribution companies to establish clear, accessible, and accountable systems for meter upgrades and replacements. Penalties for non-compliance were also proposed to protect consumers from exploitation.