…NERC explained that the new order aims to eliminate recurring reimbursement delays
ABUJA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has directed electricity distribution companies to refund a total of N20.33bn to customers who paid for meters under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme.
The regulator said the outstanding sum must be fully recovered and repaid to affected customers within 12 months, starting from March 1, 2026.
Under the MAP arrangement, customers purchase meters upfront and are reimbursed by their DisCos through energy credits. However, NERC observed that repayments have been sluggish over the years, prompting fresh regulatory action.
The directive, Order No: NERC/2026/025 which revises the 2023 guidelines on meter cost reimbursement was signed on February 27, 2026, by NERC Chairman, Musiliu Oseni, and Commissioner for Legal, Licensing & Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye.
According to the commission, as of December 31, 2025, DisCos had yet to refund N20.33bn to customers who procured meters through the MAP framework.
Following a compliance review conducted in February 2026, the commission confirmed the outstanding amount and stressed the need for immediate corrective measures.
NERC explained that the new order aims to eliminate recurring reimbursement delays, improve customer communication, and boost confidence in the electricity sector.
The revised directive mandates full automation of refunds. DisCos must recognise the total cost of a MAP meter as a credit on a customer’s account once the meter is activated and refund it through automatic monthly credits over the approved amortisation period.
The order also prohibits DisCos from deducting meter reimbursement credits to settle customers’ old debts, stating clearly that both must be treated separately.
For prepaid customers, DisCos are required to generate monthly energy tokens reflecting the reimbursement no later than the fourth day of each month. Postpaid customers, on the other hand, must see the reimbursement as a clearly stated credit line on their monthly bills.
To clear the N20.33bn backlog, DisCos are to fast-track repayments within a 12-month window beginning March 1, 2026. During this period, prepaid customers will receive two reimbursement tokens monthly, while postpaid customers will have two credit entries reflected on their bills.
Additionally, NERC mandated monthly compliance reports from all DisCos detailing the total value of reimbursements made via energy credits, using a commission-approved template.
The regulator also directed DisCos to create dedicated email channels for complaints from customers who have not received their MAP refunds. Updates on such complaints and their resolution status must be included in the monthly reports submitted to the commission.
