The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has ordered all electricity distribution companies to pay ₦20.33 billion in outstanding meter reimbursements to customers under the Meter Asset Provider framework.
The commission directed that the total amount must be recovered and fully disbursed to affected customers over 12 months commencing on March 1, 2026.
Under the MAP scheme, customers pay for meters and are refunded by their DisCos through energy credits. However, the commission noted that the level of refunds had been very slow over the years, necessitating a new order.
Order No: NERC/2026/025, which amends the previous 2023 order on the reimbursement of meter costs, was signed by the NERC Chairman, Musiliu Oseni, and the Commissioner, Legal, Licensing & Compliance at NERC, Dafe Akpeneye, on February 27, 2026.
NERC stated that, as of December 31, 2025, DisCos had failed to reimburse customers for meters procured under the MAP framework, leaving an outstanding ₦20.33 billion.
“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 ₦20.33 billion to reimburse customers for meters procured under the MAP framework as at 31 December 2025,” the order stated.
The commission explained that the order is intended to prevent repeated delays in reimbursements, optimise customer notification, and strengthen sector credibility and confidence.
In the new order, the commission stated that all reimbursements to customers for meters procured under the MAP framework shall be fully automated on customer accounts, saying, “DisCos shall ensure that the total cost of a MAP meter is recognised as credit on the customer’s account upon activation of the meter and disbursed automatically as monthly credits over the approved amortisation period.”
The PUNCH