By Ayo Kehinde
Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission has unveiled plans to roll out pilot 24/7 electricity franchise zones across Lagos by October 2026, marking a major step in the state’s push to build a more reliable and independent power market.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement, Chief Executive Officer Temitope George said the initiative forms part of the commission’s short-term regulatory agenda aimed at transforming electricity supply through efficiency, innovation, and improved service delivery.
The first two or three franchise zones will serve as dedicated districts with round-the-clock power, acting as test cases for wider reforms.
Although locations are yet to be disclosed, the zones are expected to improve infrastructure management, billing transparency, and customer experience.
Supporting this rollout, LASERC plans to introduce Grid Interface Guidelines by July 2026 to define coordination between state licensees and federal electricity institutions, alongside a 100 percent metering initiative to eliminate estimated billing.
A key pillar of the reform is the Electric Eye of Lagos programme, an AI-driven metering system designed to provide real-time visibility into electricity distribution and consumption.
Pilot deployment is also scheduled for October 2026.
The broader reform framework includes the rollout of consumer complaint centres starting in Amuwo Odofin, followed by Ikorodu and Epe, as well as the introduction of draft market rules and regulatory sandbox guidelines to attract private sector participation.
The initiative builds on reforms by the Lagos State Government following the 2024 electricity law, which created LASERC and enabled Lagos to regulate its own power market.
With new power purchase agreements expected to boost generation capacity to between 200MW and 400MW, the franchise model signals a shift toward a more structured, performance-driven electricity system in Lagos.
