The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency and the Nigerian Independent System Operator have unveiled a joint action plan to strengthen safety protocols, enforce technical standards, and improve metering accuracy in the power sector.

Both agencies have established a Joint Technical Team of experts from each organisation. The team will focus on metering infrastructure, regulatory compliance, electrical inspectorate services, integration of renewable energy, as well as financial and logistical coordination.

A key component of the plan is the immediate recertification and standardisation of grid-connected metering systems nationwide, an effort both agencies say is essential to improving transparency, energy accountability, and reliability in power delivery.

According to a statement signed on Sunday by the Head of Communications and Protocol at NEMSA, Ama Umoren, the agreement was finalised during a high-level meeting between both parties.

“In a significant step, a Joint Technical Team, comprising representatives from both sides, was constituted. The team will focus on key areas including metering, standards, inspectorate services, renewables, financial and logistics frameworks. Their immediate priority will be the recertification and standardisation of grid metering systems nationwide,” Umoren stated.

The move is expected to enhance real-time grid monitoring, reduce energy losses, and foster greater confidence among industry operators and consumers alike.

In his welcome address, the Managing Director of NISO, Abdu Mohammed, reaffirmed NEMSA’s vital role in enforcing technical standards and regulations, conducting testing and certification of electrical installations and equipment throughout the sector.

He highlighted the urgent need to address Nigeria’s high Technical Loss Factor, which is largely attributed to inaccurate and poorly calibrated metering systems.

The NISO boss urged NEMSA to prioritise transparent and accurate certification of meters to reduce losses and improve efficiency, stressing that all new substations and transmission lines, whether managed by Transmission Service Providers, Generation Companies, or Distribution Companies, must be thoroughly tested and certified by NEMSA before commissioning.

In his response, the Managing Director of NEMSA, Aliyu Tahir, underscored the agency’s unwavering commitment to enforcing safety, technical standards, and regulations in line with its mandate.

He outlined the challenges facing the sector, including grid instability caused by the indiscriminate use of 33kV feeders, lengthy enforcement processes, and noncompliance by some Discos.

To address these challenges, both agencies agreed to collaborate as well as fast-track enforcement by introducing administrative sanctions to avoid lengthy legal processes where necessary.

Both agencies also pledged to share data, collaborate with other stakeholders like the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and the Nigerian Customs Service to curb the influx of substandard electrical materials.

Looking ahead, the MD/CEO of NEMSA said the Agency is developing protocols to safely integrate mini-grids and energy storage systems with the national grid in line with Nigeria’s renewable energy goals.