Let’s get straight to the point. You can’t carry your electricity meter to your new house or resell it to your neighbour, no matter how “neat” or “fast” it is. Under the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)’s rules, that meter sitting proudly on your wall isn’t your personal property. It actually belongs to your DisCo (Distribution Company).
Yep, you read that right. Even though it’s installed in your house and you may have even paid for it under a metering scheme, the meter still belongs to the DisCo. They own it, install it, maintain it, and (when the time comes) replace it. You’re just the lucky one allowed to use it, as long as you don’t tamper with it.
🧐 Why Can’t I Move or Sell It?
Because according to NERC’s Metering Code (Version 02) and the Order on the Structured Replacement of Faulty & Obsolete Meters (2021), electricity meters are part of the national electricity network — not your personal home appliance.
If you start moving or reselling it, NERC and your DisCo will see it as unauthorised interference: fancy talk for “you’re tampering with their equipment.”
That’s a serious offence. It could be seen as bypass, energy theft, or non-compliance, all of which can get you billed heavily or even disconnected.
💡 Story Time
Let’s bring this home with a true-to-life story.
A certain man (let’s call him Mr. Musa) came back from work one day to discover that his electricity meter had disappeared. Vanished! Someone had stolen it.
He did the right thing. He went to the police, got an extract, and reported the matter to his DisCo. The DisCo replaced the meter and even transferred his old billing history to the new one.
Now here’s where it gets interesting: months later, the stolen meter resurfaced in another part of town, happily mounted and on bypass (as in, someone was using it to enjoy free light).
The DisCo’s revenue protection team found it and, thinking it was still linked to the original account, back-billed poor Mr. Musa. Next thing he knew, when he tried to recharge his new meter, the money started vanishing into deductions for the illegal usage.
Moral of the story? Even when you’ve been the victim, a stolen meter can still come back to haunt you. Do everything to protect your meter! 😬
⚙️ What the Rules Actually Say
Here’s the breakdown — without the lawyer grammar:
- Your DisCo owns your meter.
The NERC Metering Code literally says: “The Distributor shall own all Metering Systems at Metering Points.” Translation? The meter belongs to them, not you. You can use it, but you can’t sell, relocate, or “loan” it out. - Only the DisCo installs or replaces meters.
If your meter is faulty or outdated, the DisCo (or its accredited metering provider) must replace it. They also handle activation tokens, sealing, inspection — all that techy stuff.
You? Your job is to make sure they can access it when they come knocking. - Tampering = Wahala.
Breaking seals, moving meters, or trying to reconnect by yourself is a straight road to trouble. NERC has an Order on Unauthorised Access, Meter Tampering, and Bypass (2025) that makes it very clear: don’t touch what’s not yours. - Customers are users, not owners.
Your responsibility is to keep the meter safe, report faults or thefts, and cooperate with DisCo staff during checks. That’s it. No resale, no relocation, no DIY installation.
🧾 What If I’m Moving Houses?
If you’re relocating, don’t unscrew the meter and toss it into your truck like a TV.
Instead, notify your DisCo. They’ll arrange for disconnection and either reinstall a new meter at your new place or officially move your account (if it’s possible).
This way, your records, consumption data, and account status stay clean and you avoid inheriting someone else’s billing wahala.
🔌 Final Word
Meters are like license plates. They’re assigned, tracked, and owned by the system, not by individuals.
So, before you say, “Ah, I’ll just sell my old meter to my cousin,” remember: that’s technically selling government property. And that, my friend, is how small electricity drama turns into big legal trouble. 😅
When in doubt, call your DisCo or check with NERC before doing anything meter-related. Light is sweet, but compliance is sweeter. ⚡
