KEY POINTS
- Ikeja Electric has kept a Lagos resident on estimated billing for two months instead of replacing a faulty meter.
- The billing method reportedly violates NERC regulations, which require using a three-month average when meters are faulty or unavailable.
- FIJ’s intervention restored Adeyemi’s power temporarily, but the meter replacement is still pending, with the customer placed on a priority list.
Joachim Adeyemi, a Lagos resident, has been left on estimated electricity billing for two months after reporting a faulty meter to Ikeja Electric.
Instead of replacing the outdated one, the electricity distribution company opted to place him on estimated billing.
Adeyemi told the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) that the company promised to replace the meter after reconnecting his electricity supply, but no action has been taken since.
Adeyemi expressed frustration over a bill of over N40,000 for the period between November 18 and 30, 2025. He said Ikeja Electric ignored the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) rule that requires billing based on the three-month average when meters are faulty or cannot be replaced promptly.
“My meter was faulty, I was not able to recharge,” Adeyemi said, noting that he opposed being placed on estimated billing since his consumption pattern is consistent.
Long Delay and Partial Reconnection
Adeyemi spent 57 days without electricity due to the faulty meter and slow response from Ikeja Electric. FIJ’s intervention eventually led to the reconnection of his power supply, though the meter has yet to be replaced. The company reportedly placed him on a priority list for future replacement.
Attempts by FIJ to reach Ikeja Electric’s customer care line were initially unsuccessful. When contacted, Gbenga Adeleye, undertaking manager for the Ketu unit, promised to investigate the case and confirm Adeyemi’s status on the prepaid meter replacement list.
