NERC orders DisCos to refund N20.33bn meter debt

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has directed electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to refund N20.33bn owed to customers who purchased meters under the Meter Asset Provider framework.

The commission ordered that the outstanding sum be fully recovered and repaid to affected customers over a 12-month period beginning March 1, 2026.

Under the MAP scheme, customers pay upfront for electricity meters and are reimbursed by their DisCos through energy credits spread over an agreed period. However, NERC said refunds have been sluggish, prompting a fresh directive to fast-track compliance.

The new directive, Order No: NERC/2026/025, amends a 2023 order on meter cost reimbursement. It was signed on February 27, 2026, by NERC Chairman, Musiliu Oseni, and Commissioner for Legal, Licensing and Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye.

According to the commission, as of December 31, 2025, DisCos had yet to refund N20.33bn to customers who procured meters under the MAP scheme.

“In February 2026, the commission reviewed the level of compliance of DisCos with the expected reimbursement to customers who have paid for meters under the MAP framework. The review highlighted that DisCos have an outstanding amount of N20.33bn to reimburse customers as at 31 December 2025,” the order stated.

To prevent further delays, NERC directed that all reimbursements must be fully automated. It said the total cost of a MAP meter must be credited to a customer’s account upon meter activation and repaid automatically through monthly energy credits over the approved amortisation period.

The commission also barred DisCos from deducting meter reimbursements to settle customers’ previous debts, stressing that both items must be treated separately.

For prepaid customers, DisCos are required to generate monthly tokens reflecting the reimbursement value no later than the fourth day of each month. Postpaid customers must see the reimbursement as a distinct credit line item on their bills, deducted from the total payable.

To clear the backlog, prepaid customers will receive two tokens monthly, while postpaid customers will see two reimbursement entries on their bills during the 12-month recovery window.

NERC further mandated DisCos to submit monthly compliance reports detailing the value of reimbursements made and to establish dedicated email channels to handle customer complaints related to MAP refunds.

The commission said the measures are aimed at enhancing transparency, restoring consumer confidence, and strengthening accountability in the power sector.