By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has directed electricity distribution companies in the country to refund a total of N20.33 billion to customers for meters purchased under the Meter Asset Provider Framework.
The commission said the directive, which took effect from March 1, 2026, followed a regulatory review that revealed many Electricity Distribution Companies had failed to consistently reimburse customers through the promised energy credit system.
To address the backlog, NERC introduced a strictly monitored 12-month repayment timeline and new automation requirements aimed at ensuring that all affected customers are refunded.
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According to the commission, the directive is designed to improve the reimbursement process, strengthen customer notification and prevent recurring delays in implementation while boosting confidence in the power sector.
“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 N20.33 billion to reimburse customers for meters procured under the MAP framework as at December 31, 2025,” the commission said.
NERC noted that the findings were supported by the high volume of complaints received from customers regarding delays and deficiencies in the refund process.
The commission directed that all reimbursements must be fully automated on customer accounts, adding that the total cost of a MAP meter should be recognised as credit once the meter is activated and repaid through monthly energy credits over the approved amortisation period.
It also warned that DisCos must not offset meter reimbursement credits against customers’ legacy debts, stressing that such credits must be treated separately.
For customers using prepaid meters, the commission said the billing system must automatically generate a token with energy value equivalent to the monthly reimbursement no later than the fourth day of every month.
The token, it added, would be sent to the customer’s registered telephone number and email address along with details of the meter’s initial cost, the total value of reimbursements already applied and the outstanding balance.
For post-paid customers, NERC said the monthly reimbursement must appear as a separate credit line on the customer’s bill and deducted from the total payable amount for the month.
The commission further directed that the N20.33 billion owed to customers as of December 31, 2025, must be fully recovered through accelerated reimbursements within a 12-month period starting from March 1, 2026.
