EKEDC Accused of Demanding ₦112,606 From Solar-Powered Lekki Resident Over ‘Loss of Revenue’

A Lekki Phase 1 resident, Raphael Awoseyin, has accused Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) of demanding ₦112,606 from him for alleged “Loss of Revenue” after he installed an 18kW solar power system at his property and reduced his reliance on electricity supplied by the distribution company.

In an account dated October 19, 2026, Awoseyin alleged that EKEDC personnel visited his property several times to inspect his prepaid meter after his electricity consumption declined following the installation of solar power.

According to him, the latest visit involved three EKEDC personnel who presented a disconnection notice and demanded payment over what they described as loss of revenue.

Awoseyin said he last purchased electricity tokens in July 2026 and still had sufficient units remaining on his prepaid meter.

How the dispute began

Awoseyin explained that his solar installation now supplies most of his daytime electricity needs, leaving EKEDC’s grid as a backup source, particularly when solar power is unavailable.

He alleged that during an earlier inspection, EKEDC personnel became suspicious when they observed that his meter was not recording significant consumption.

The resident said he switched his inverter to bypass mode for approximately two minutes, allowing electricity from EKEDC to power his property. He claimed the meter then recorded consumption normally.

He further alleged that one of the personnel expressed frustration about his low electricity consumption before the team left the premises.

During the subsequent visit on October 19, Awoseyin said the personnel presented a disconnection notice and demanded ₦112,606 under the description “Loss of Revenue” (LOR).

He maintained that his meter was functioning properly and offered to have it tested, but alleged that the team insisted the distribution company was losing revenue because he was consuming less electricity.

These allegations are based on Awoseyin’s account. EKEDC’s response to the specific incident has not been independently established.

Can EKEDC legally demand the money?

The allegation raises a legitimate regulatory question, but the distinction is important: low electricity consumption is not, by itself, proof of meter tampering or electricity theft.

According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), electricity consumers have the right to a functional meter, transparent billing and the opportunity to contest disputed bills. Consumers can also escalate unresolved complaints to the NERC Consumer Forum.

However, the phrase “Loss of Revenue” is not automatically unlawful. A separate 2026 decision by the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission directed a distribution company to calculate an LOR charge after a meter bypass was established, requiring the assessment to be supported by evidence and properly computed. That decision concerns a different state and a different case; it does not establish that EKEDC’s demand in Lekki is valid.

In Awoseyin’s case, the key questions are whether EKEDC has evidence of a faulty meter, tampering, bypass or unrecorded electricity consumption, and which regulatory provision it relies on to calculate the ₦112,606 demand.

What should the customer do?

Request a written explanation of the alleged loss of revenue, including the calculation and the period covered.

Ask for a formal meter test and a written report of the findings.

Submit a written complaint to EKEDC’s Customer Complaints Unit and retain proof of submission.

If the dispute remains unresolved, escalate it to the relevant NERC Consumer Forum and, where necessary, the Commission.

The customer’s account alone does not establish that EKEDC acted unlawfully, but neither does a decline in consumption establish that the meter is defective.

The broader issue is whether consumers who invest in solar power can reduce their dependence on the grid without being treated as though they have committed an offence simply because they buy fewer electricity units.

Until EKEDC responds to the specific allegations, the ₦112,606 demand should be treated as disputed, not as a proven case of electricity theft or an established unlawful charge.