Nasarawa DisCo Tackles Metering, Billing Infrastructure Gaps; Urges Community Action On Vandalism Theft

Nasarawa Electricity Distribution Limited NAEDL, a subsidiary of Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc. AEDC,  has launched a stakeholder engagement in Keffi to address the challenges of persistent metering, billing and infrastructure shortfalls, and urged communities to help curb vandalism and energy theft that undermine service reliability.

The company also renewed its commitment to improved electricity service delivery, calling on communities across Nasarawa State to partner with the company in protecting power infrastructure.

The pledge was made at a high-level stakeholder engagement forum held in Keffi, which brought together community leaders, market associations, customers, residents, government representatives, security agencies and regulatory institutions for an open dialogue on electricity service challenges and opportunities across the state.

Representing AEDC managing director, Chijioke Okwuokenye, chief operating officer, Blessing Ogbe stressed that lasting service improvement hinges on collaboration between the utility and its customers, alongside continued investments in network infrastructure, metering and customer service.

“Our commitment goes beyond infrastructure investments; it is about building lasting partnerships with the communities we serve,” Ogbe said. “Through collaboration, accountability and shared responsibility, we can deliver better outcomes for customers across the state.”

Ogbe also addressed the ongoing refund of meter costs to customers who paid under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme, assuring stakeholders that the process is being implemented in line with regulatory directives and would be handled through a transparent and structured process.

On the regulatory front, AEDC’s Chief Regulatory Officer, Engr. Emmanuel Ogwuoche, said the engagement programme was designed to channel customer concerns directly into operational decision-making, ensuring they translate into concrete service improvements.

NAEDL Managing Director Veronica Abah used the occasion to call on communities to take an active role in safeguarding electricity assets, warning that vandalism, energy theft and damage to distribution equipment continue to undermine service reliability and drive up costs for both customers and operators.

“The transformers, cables and installations within our communities are collective assets that must be safeguarded for the benefit of all,” Abah said. “Improving electricity service delivery is a shared responsibility.”

A question-and-answer session gave customers and community representatives direct access to company officials to raise concerns on billing disputes, metering gaps, service interruptions, fault resolution and infrastructure deficits. Officials committed to follow-up actions on community-specific issues raised during the forum.

Participants described the engagement as a meaningful step toward strengthening the relationship between NAEDL and the communities it serves, a relationship the company says remains central to its operational mandate.