METER PROCUREMENT: NERC Orders Refund of ₦20.33Bn
Pan Afric Reporters
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has directec electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to refund ₦20.33 billion to customers who procured meters under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme.
The directive mandates DisCos to complete the reimbursement within 12 months, beginning from March 1, 2026. The refunds are to be made through equal monthly energy credits applied directly to affected customers’ electricity accounts.
Under the MAP framework, customers who paid upfront for meters are entitled to reimbursement over time. However, a regulatory review showed that as of December 31, 2025, a total of ₦20.33 billion remained unpaid.
NERC ordered that all reimbursements be automated once a MAP meter is activated. The commission also clarified that the credits must not be used to offset existing electricity debts.
For prepaid customers, the refunds will be reflected in monthly energy tokens, while post-paid customers will see the reimbursement as a separate credit line item on their bills.
The regulator further directed DisCos to submit monthly progress reports and establish dedicated channels for customer complaints regarding delayed refunds.
This accordingly will improve transparency, restoring consumer confidence, and strengthening compliance within the sector.
