The Enugu State Government, along with the United Kingdom via the United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNiAF), has initiated a pilot program that introduces an innovative AI-enabled smart metering system. This initiative is focused on mitigating energy theft and minimizing revenue losses within the power sector.
This development was disclosed during the Enugu State Investor Forum, which themed "Driving Revenue Assurance and Private Investment through Data-Driven Metering," held on Tuesday at the International Conference Centre in Enugu.
The program enjoys the backing of UK International Development and is spearheaded by Tetra Tech. It saw the participation of pivotal stakeholders in the sector, including electricity distribution firms, investors, and policymakers, aiming to explore avenues for expanding smart metering and enhancing electricity access in Enugu State.
The initiative further seeks to bolster Nigeria's capacity to implement sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure, with Enugu being a primary beneficiary.
During the event, Mr. Chijioke Okonkwo, the Chairman and CEO of the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission, remarked that this project aims to tackle perennial issues surrounding revenue losses, energy theft, and poor billing effectiveness.
He revealed that 846 smart meters had already been deployed as part of a pilot project in the Ugwuaji area of the state capital, encompassing nearby semi- urban communities.
Mr. Okonkwo pointed out that this technology facilitates comprehensive tracking of electricity consumption from transformers down to individual households. He stated, "This system allows us to significantly diminish, if not completely eliminate, commercial and collection losses that have long restricted the development of the power sector."
According to him, AI-enabled meters will deliver real-time insights on energy consumption, empowering consumers to monitor their usage and enabling operators to swiftly identify faults or irregularities, including incidents of theft and equipment vandalism.
The initiative also opens the electricity market in Enugu to private investors and energy retail companies, especially in areas that are currently lacking effective services. He urged investors to seize this opportunity to deploy smart meters, enhance distribution networks, and possibly initiate embedded power generation systems within the state.
In terms of costs, Okonkwo noted that the current market prices for meters are approximately N130,000 for single-phase units and around N230,000 for three- phase units, with flexible payment terms available to facilitate adoption.
Mr. Frank Edozie, the Team Leader of UKNiAF, referred to the project as a benchmark, demonstrating how artificial intelligence can promote transparency and accountability in electricity revenue collection.
“The system guarantees proper collection and accounting of all revenues due within the sector. It also identifies any breaches related to energy or financial flows, establishing a robust framework for revenue assurance,” Edozie commented.
He mentioned Enugu was chosen for this pilot scheme due to its proactive role in implementing reforms under Nigeria’s Electricity Act of 2023, which allows states to create independent electricity markets.
Launched in November 2025, the pilot project has already produced encouraging outcomes, significantly improving revenue recovery and reducing losses.
Ernest Mupwaya, the Managing Director of MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited, stated that the initiative addresses crucial challenges in the power sector—metering deficiencies and revenue protection.
He underscored that without effective metering and robust revenue assurance mechanisms, investments in the power sector would remain unappealing and unsustainable.
"Smart metering, coupled with advanced monitoring technologies gives utilities better insight across their networks, enabling loss detection and enhancing operational effectiveness," Mupwaya specified.
He added that this project demonstrates the feasibility of attracting private financing for metering infrastructure, asserting that better revenue collection would allow operators to recoup their investments over time.
Earlier, Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, the Enugu State Commissioner for Trade, Investment, and Industry, noted that the state was selected for this initiative due to the reforms and progress made in its electricity market. He explained that the successful pilot has proven that smart metering can ensure revenue security throughout the entire electricity supply chain—from generation to distribution—thus reinforcing investor confidence.
Ogbu-Nwobodo stated, "The system guarantees investors their ability to reclaim investments, an essential factor for drawing in funding for power generation, transmission, and distribution."
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