The Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission, LASERC, has issued an important consumer protection directive, stating clearly that electricity supply licensees operating within Lagos State are prohibited from recovering charges that are more than 12 months old from consumers.

The commission made this known through a consumer awareness message published on its official social media platform, as part of a broader effort to educate electricity consumers about their rights under the Lagos State electricity regulatory framework.

In its awareness message, LASERC stated that electricity supply licensees cannot go back further than 12 months to recover unpaid charges from consumers. This means that if a power distribution company attempts to bill a customer for electricity consumed more than one year ago, such a demand is not backed by law and consumers have the right to reject it.

The commission, however, noted specific exceptions to this rule. According to LASERC, the 12-month restriction does not apply in cases involving meter tampering, illegal use of electricity, or deliberate obstruction of meter reading by the consumer. In such situations, electricity companies may be permitted to recover charges beyond the one-year window.

This directive is a significant win for millions of electricity consumers across Lagos State who have long complained about arbitrary and excessive back-billing by distribution companies. Back-billing occurs when a power company issues a bill covering a long period of estimated or unrecorded consumption, sometimes spanning several years, leaving consumers with shockingly large and unexpected electricity bills.

Many consumers have faced harassment and threats of disconnection over such bills, often without knowing they had any legal protection. LASERC’s latest awareness campaign seeks to change that by empowering consumers with the knowledge they need to push back against unlawful billing practices.

LASERC’s message is a reminder that electricity consumers in Lagos State are not without recourse. The commission was established to regulate electricity distribution within the state and ensure that both licensees and consumers operate within clearly defined rules.

As a consumer, if a distribution company presents you with a bill covering charges older than 12 months — and you are not guilty of meter tampering, illegal connection, or obstructing meter reading — you are within your rights to dispute such a bill and report the matter to LASERC for investigation and resolution.

Consumers can reach LASERC through its official social media platforms and other communication channels to lodge complaints and seek guidance on electricity-related disputes.

Energy experts and consumer rights advocates have welcomed LASERC’s awareness campaign, describing it as a positive step toward building a more transparent and accountable electricity distribution system in Lagos State.

With Lagos operating its own electricity regulatory framework separate from the national grid, LASERC has a unique opportunity to set high standards for consumer protection that other states can emulate.

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