Chinedum Elekwachi
National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Thursday disclosed that a total of 691,639 customers are unmetered out of the 1,369,440 captured in the metering status of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC).
Senior Manager, NERC, Abuja, Chinedu Anyigor gave the statistics at the customer complaints resolution meeting held in Awka, Anambra state.
Speaking during his presentation, Anyigor said while 704,801 customers are metered, 691639 are yet to be metered, representing 50 percent of the consumer population.
He identified metering as one of the major complaints in the electricity industry, encouraging residents uncomfortable with estimated billing to key into the metering programme.
According to him, the federal government approved the national mass metering programme to ensure balance.
“Both customers and distribution companies are affected by metering issues. Some customers use electricity without paying, leading to revenue losses for distribution firms.
Customer unaware of rights
Anyigor declared, “Besides, many customers are unaware of their rights and obligations. Customers have rights to safe reliable and active electricity metres.
“As at June 2025 metering update status, total customers are 1,369,440; number of metered ones are 704,801 while unmetered ones 691639, representing 50 percent of the entire figure,” he said.
Head, Customer Protection, NERC, Dr Zubairu Babatunde said the meeting was an opportunity for the Commission to meditate between customers and service providers towards resolving electricity supply issues.
“The commission came up with the initiative to relate with consumers in the presence of the operators with regards to electricity supply, including metering, billing, transformer and other issues.
“Being a business transaction, there are bound to be complains. But as a regulatory body and umpire, our duty is to mediate between the customers and service providers.
“We don’t want to sit down at the headquarters and assume all is well,” he explained.
Managing Director, EEDC, Vincent Ekwekwu acknowledged challenges facing the power firm, assuring the company’s readiness to address them.
Ekwekwu, represented by Chief Information Officer, EEDC, Idika Okechukwu solicited collaboration with relevant stakeholders to ensure improved quality service delivery to its customers across the zone.
EEDC here to serve
“EEDC is here to serve and not to fight. We’re here to listen, feel the pulse of our customers, to resolve their issues, as well as improve on the things we’ve not been doing well.
“Our billing, metering, reconciliation team, as well as complaint resolution and operation team are on ground to assist.
“If you need your meter to be installed in 72hours, we’re ready for it,” he said.
In his presentation, Group Head, Health, Safety & Environment, EEDC, Dr. Francis Iwu regretted absence of earthing mechanisms in many buildings in the region, which he said had claimed lives and property over the years.
He also listed sighting of structures, water storage tank and shops under high tension wires, socket overload and other violations to power regulations as other factors posing dangers to consumers.
He said, “Many of the buildings in the Southeast lack earthing mechanisms. In the event of any leakage, some parts of the building will be shocking, including the refrigerator, gates and railings.
“Besides, the meter won’t function appropriately. That’s why people complain about the “fastness” of the credit in their meters.
“The earthing serves as protective connection to the earth. What the lightening arrestor at the roof top of the building does is to discharge the current into the earth in the event of lightening.
Safety at all cost
“When we talk about safety, nothing is too costly to be invested to ensure protection of the house and its occupants.
“Anyone who claims safety is costly should try accident to know the one that is more costly.”
Also speaking, Managing Director, Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) and Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, Mr Aliyu Tukuh, stressed the need for certification of electrical installation.
Represented by Area Inspecting Engineer, Mr Osita Obiukwu, the MD urged consumers to ensure their facilities were earthed and meters tested and certified before installation by qualified officers.
Present at the meeting included State Director, NOA, Mr Edozie Ajegbo, State Resident Electoral Commissioner, INEC, Dr. Elizabeth Agwu, Representative of Public Complaints Commission (PCC), Mrs Justina Amah, among other personalities.
