The United Kingdom, through its United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNiAF) in partnership with the Enugu State Government has introduced an AI-enabled smart metering system in the state.
The initiative is aimed at curbing energy theft and eliminating revenue losses in the electricity sub-sector.
The event entitled: “Enugu State Investor Forum, with the theme: Driving Revenue Assurance and Private Investment through Data-Driven Metering, ” was held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu on Tuesday.
The event brought together key stakeholders including electricity distribution companies, investors, and policymakers, to explore opportunities for expanding smart metering and improving electricity access in Enugu State.
UKNiAF is funded by the UK Agency for International Development (UKAID) and implemented by Tetra Tech.
The partnership is focused on strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to deliver sustainable and climate-smart infrastructure with Enugu State as a key beneficiary.
Speaking, Mr Chijioke Okonkwo, the Chairman/CEO of Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ESERC), said the project was designed to address persistent challenges of revenue leakages, energy theft, and poor billing.
He disclosed that a pilot scheme involving the deployment of 846 smart meters had already been carried out in the Ugwuaji axis of Enugu, covering surrounding semi-urban communities.
According to him, the pilot enabled full tracking of electricity consumption from transformers to individual households.
“This system allows us to drastically reduce, if not eliminate, commercial and collection losses, which have long hindered the growth of the power sector,” he said.
He said the AI-enabled meters provided real-time data on energy usage, empower consumers to monitor their consumption, and help operators to quickly detect faults or irregularities, including theft and equipment vandalism.
The regulator noted that the initiative also opened opportunities for private investors and energy retail companies to participate in Enugu’s electricity market, particularly in underserved areas.
“We are inviting investors to take advantage of this opportunity by deploying smart meters, expanding distribution networks, and even establishing embedded power generation within the state,” he added.
Okonkwo said that the current market prices for meters stood at approximately N130,000 for single-phase units and about N230,000 for three-phase units.
He however, said that flexible payment structures could be arranged to ease adoption.
Also speaking, the Team leader of UKNiAF, Mr Frank Edozie, described the project as a “demonstrator” of how artificial intelligence could enhance transparency and accountability in electricity revenue collection.
“The system ensures that all revenues due to the sector are properly collected and accounted for.
“It also detects any breach in energy or financial flows, making it a strong revenue assurance mechanism,” Edozie said.
He said that Enugu was selected for the pilot due to its leading role in implementing reforms under Nigeria’s Electricity Act 2023, which empowered states to develop independent electricity markets.
According to him, the pilot project, which commenced in November 2025, has already shown encouraging results, including significant improvements in revenue recovery and reduction in losses.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited, Dr Ernest Mupwaya, said the initiative addressed two critical issues in the power sector—metering gaps and revenue protection.
He emphasised that without efficient metering and strong revenue assurance systems, investments in the power sector would remain unattractive and unsustainable.
“Smart metering combined with advanced monitoring systems gives utilities visibility across their networks, making it easier to detect losses and improve operational efficiency,” he said.
Mupwaya added that the project had demonstrated the viability of attracting private financing into metering infrastructure.
He noted that improved revenue collection would enable operators to repay investments over time.
Earlier, the Enugu State Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Industry, Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, said the state was selected for the initiative due to ongoing reforms and progress in its electricity market.
He explained that the successful pilot had proven that smart metering could guarantee revenue assurance across the electricity value chain—from generation to distribution—thereby boosting investor confidence.
“The system assures investors that they will recover their investments, which is critical for attracting funding into power generation, transmission, and distribution,” he said.
