The Federal Government has announced an immediate ban on electricity distribution companies (DisCos) and their installers from collecting any form of payment for electricity meters, warning that offenders will face prosecution.
The directive, issued through relevant power sector regulatory authorities, reinforces the government’s position that electricity meters provided under approved metering programmes are free and must not attract charges from consumers. Authorities said the move is aimed at ending widespread complaints of extortion, illegal fees, and delays in meter installation across the country.
According to the government, any DisCo official or installer found demanding or receiving money from customers for meter provision, installation, or replacement will be sanctioned in line with existing laws. Consumers were also encouraged to report cases of extortion to regulatory bodies for immediate investigation and action.
The ban is expected to strengthen ongoing efforts to close the metering gap, protect consumers, and improve transparency and trust in the electricity distribution system. The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring fair billing, especially as more households transition from estimated billing to metered electricity consumption.