NERC orders DisCos to refund ₦20.33bn meter costs to customers within 12 months

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has ordered electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to refund a total of ₦20.33bn to customers who paid for meters under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) framework.

The directive was issued in Order No: NERC/2026/025, signed on February 27, 2026, by NERC Chairman, Musiliu Oseni, and the Commissioner for Legal, Licensing and Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye.

The order amends an earlier 2023 directive and mandates DisCos to fully reimburse affected customers within 12 months, beginning March 1, 2026.

Under the MAP scheme, customers procure meters upfront and are expected to receive refunds through energy credits from their respective DisCos. However, NERC noted that reimbursement has been significantly delayed over the years.

According to the commission, as of December 31, 2025, DisCos had failed to refund ₦20.33bn owed to customers for meters acquired under the scheme, prompting regulatory intervention to fast-track repayments and restore consumer confidence.

The new order stipulates that all reimbursements must be automated. DisCos are required to recognise the full cost of a MAP meter as credit on a customer’s account upon activation and disburse it monthly over the approved 120-month amortisation period.

The commission further directed that reimbursement credits must not be used to offset customers’ legacy debts, stressing that both obligations must be treated separately.

For prepaid customers, DisCos are mandated to generate monthly energy tokens representing the reimbursement no later than the fourth day of each month. Postpaid customers, on the other hand, must see the refund reflected as a distinct credit line item on their monthly bills, deducted from the total payable amount.

To clear the outstanding ₦20.33bn arrears, DisCos are to accelerate reimbursements over a 12-month period. Prepaid customers will receive two tokens monthly, while postpaid customers will have two reimbursement entries reflected on their bills during the recovery period.

NERC also directed all DisCos to submit monthly compliance reports detailing total reimbursements made through energy credits.

Additionally, each DisCo must establish a dedicated email channel to handle complaints from customers who have not received their refunds, with updates on complaint resolution included in the monthly reports.

The commission said the measure is aimed at preventing further delays, improving transparency in customer notification, and strengthening credibility in Nigeria’s electricity market.