NERC Orders ₦20.33bn Meter Refunds to Consumers

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has ordered all electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to fully reimburse customers a total of ₦20.33 billion in outstanding costs for meters procured under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) framework.

The directive, contained in Order No: NERC/2026/025 and signed on February 27, 2026, by NERC Chairman Dr Musiliu Oseni and Commissioner for Legal, Licensing & Compliance, Mr Dafe Akpeneye, amends the earlier 2023 guidelines on meter reimbursements.

NaijaChoice News reports that the move follows a February 2026 review which revealed that, as of December 31, 2025, DisCos had failed to reimburse customers who paid upfront for meters under the MAP scheme, leaving the massive ₦20.33bn debt unpaid.

Under the MAP framework introduced in 2018 to accelerate metering and end estimated billing, customers who opted for upfront payment were to receive refunds through energy credits spread over an amortisation period. However, slow compliance over the years forced NERC to step in with stricter measures.

The new order mandates DisCos to accelerate the refunds over a 12-month period starting March 1, 2026. Reimbursements will be fully automated: the total meter cost will be credited to customer accounts upon meter activation and disbursed as monthly energy credits.

Importantly, DisCos have been barred from offsetting these credits against any legacy debts owed by customers. “DisCos shall not offset meter reimbursement credits against customer legacy debts; the items must be treated separately,” the order states.

For prepaid meter users, DisCos must automatically generate tokens equivalent to the monthly reimbursement no later than the 4th day of every month — with affected customers receiving two tokens per month to fast-track recovery. Postpaid customers will see two distinct reimbursement credit line items on their monthly bills.

DisCos have also been directed to file monthly compliance reports to NERC detailing the value of reimbursements made, using an approved template. In addition, each DisCo must create a dedicated email address for MAP refund complaints, with full details of such complaints and their resolution status included in the monthly reports.

This intervention is expected to prevent further delays, improve transparency, optimise customer notifications, and restore confidence in the power sector.

The development comes as Nigeria’s national metering rate hovers around 56 per cent as of October 2025, with 6.77 million out of 12.07 million active customers metered, according to NERC data. While government-backed initiatives like the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) continue to roll out free meters, the MAP refunds address past payments already made by consumers.

Power Minister Chief Adebayo Adelabu has been pushing aggressively for faster meter deployment nationwide, recently directing companies like IBEDC to speed up installation of allocated free prepaid meters.

The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), through its CEO Sunday Oduntan, has previously assured that customers who paid under MAP will receive their due refunds as part of broader sector reforms.

NaijaChoice News understands that affected customers should monitor their accounts or contact their DisCo’s dedicated complaint channel starting March 2026. The Commission has warned that full compliance will be strictly monitored, with sanctions possible for defaulting DisCos.

This order represents a significant win for Nigerian electricity consumers who bore the initial cost of metering in a bid to escape estimated billing. Implementation over the next 12 months is expected to inject fresh confidence into the sector as the country continues its journey towards universal metering and reliable power supply.