The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has directed all electricity distribution companies to refund N20.33bn in outstanding meter reimbursements to customers under the Meter Asset Provider framework.
The commission said the amount must be fully recovered and disbursed to affected customers within 12 months, starting from March 1, 2026.
Under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme, customers pay upfront for electricity meters. The cost is then refunded by the distribution companies (DisCos) through energy credits spread over time. However, NERC noted that reimbursements have been slow, prompting a fresh directive.
The new directive, Order No: NERC/2026/025, amends the previous 2023 order on meter cost reimbursement. It was signed on February 27, 2026, by NERC Chairman, Musiliu Oseni, and Commissioner for Legal, Licensing and Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye.
According to the commission, as of December 31, 2025, DisCos had failed to refund N20.33bn to customers who procured meters under the MAP framework.
“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 order stated.
The review showed that the N20.33bn remained unpaid as at the end of 2025.
NERC explained that the new order aims to stop repeated delays, improve customer notification, and strengthen confidence in the power sector.
Under the revised framework, all reimbursements must now be fully automated. DisCos are required to recognise the total cost of a MAP meter as credit on a customer’s account immediately after activation. The refund will then be disbursed automatically as monthly credits over the approved amortisation period.
The commission also made it clear that meter reimbursement credits must not be used to offset any existing customer debts.
“DisCos shall not offset meter reimbursement credits against customer legacy debts; the items must be treated separately,” the order stated.
For prepaid customers, DisCos must generate monthly tokens that reflect the reimbursement amount. For postpaid customers, the reimbursement must appear as a separate credit line on their monthly bills.
NERC stated that prepaid customers must receive their reimbursement tokens no later than the fourth day of every month. The token will carry an energy value equivalent to the monthly refund due over the 120-month amortisation period, based on the prevailing tariff.
Postpaid customers, on the other hand, will see the reimbursement clearly listed and deducted from their total monthly payable amount.
To clear the N20.33bn backlog, DisCos have been instructed to accelerate repayment over a 12-month period beginning March 1, 2026. During this period, prepaid customers will receive two tokens monthly, while postpaid customers will see two reimbursement credits on their bills.
In addition, NERC has mandated strict monitoring measures. All DisCos must submit monthly compliance reports detailing the total value of reimbursements made through energy credits.
The commission also directed DisCos to create a dedicated email address to receive complaints from customers who have not received their MAP meter refunds. Details of such complaints and their resolution status must be included in the monthly reports submitted to the commission.
