The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has issued a firm directive compelling all DisCos to repay ₦20.33 billion in outstanding reimbursements to customers who purchased prepaid meters under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) framework.
The order, contained in Order No. NERC/2026/025 titled “Amended Order on the Reimbursement of Meter Costs” and signed by NERC Chairman Musiliu Oseni and Commissioner for Legal, Licensing & Compliance Dafe Akpeneye on February 27, 2026, takes effect from March 1, 2026.
It amends an earlier 2023 directive and mandates that the full outstanding sum, accrued as of December 31, 2025, be recovered and disbursed to affected customers within a strict 12-month period ending February 2027.
Under the MAP scheme, introduced to accelerate meter deployment amid chronic shortages and reduce estimated billing, willing customers pay upfront for prepaid meters supplied by licensed Meter Asset Providers. In return, DisCos are required to reimburse these costs gradually through energy credits applied to monthly bills, effectively spreading the repayment over an agreed period to offset the capital outlay.
However, compliance has been patchy at best. NERC’s February 2026 review uncovered widespread delays and under-recovery, leaving ₦20.33 billion unpaid by the close of 2025. The regulator attributed the backlog to “persistent implementation gaps” and a flood of customer complaints about slow or nonexistent refunds—issues that have eroded confidence in both the DisCos and the broader metering initiative.
“The review highlighted that DisCos have an outstanding amount of NGN20.33 billion to reimburse customers for meters procured under the MAP framework as at 31 December 2025,” NERC stated in the order. “The result of the analysis is further corroborated by the volume of complaints concerning delays and deficiencies in the implementation of the reimbursement of the meter cost to customers that have been received by the Commission.”
To enforce faster recovery, NERC has directed DisCos to accelerate reimbursements over the 12-month window, amortizing any under-reimbursed amounts in equal monthly installments credited directly to customers’ accounts. Crucially, these credits must not be used to offset existing debts owed by customers.
In a bid to enhance transparency and prevent future lapses, the amended order imposes several compliance measures:
- Full automation of the reimbursement process on customer accounts to eliminate manual delays.
- Monthly reporting to NERC using an approved template, detailing total reimbursements made.
- Establishment of a dedicated complaints channel specifically for meter reimbursement issues.
- Improved customer notifications to ensure users are promptly informed of credits applied.
NERC emphasized that these steps are designed to “streamline the reimbursement process, improve customer notifications, and boost confidence in the sector.” The regulator hopes the intervention will curb repeated delays, lift customer satisfaction, and reinforce the credibility of Nigeria’s privatized power industry, which has long struggled with low metering penetration, estimated billing frustrations, and public distrust.
Industry observers note that while the directive offers welcome relief to thousands of prepaid-meter customers who effectively financed assets that should benefit DisCos’ revenue collection, enforcement will be key. Past threats of sanctions—including withholding DisCos’ operational expenditure entitlements—have not always translated into swift action.
Affected customers are advised to monitor their monthly bills closely from March 2026 onward and report any discrepancies through official DisCo channels or NERC’s dedicated mechanisms.
For many Nigerians already grappling with erratic supply and high tariffs, this reimbursement—though spread over a year—represents a modest but meaningful payback in a sector where consumer goodwill remains in short supply.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Nigeria’s electricity regulator, NERC, has ordered all power distribution companies to repay ₦20.33 billion to customers who bought prepaid meters under the MAP scheme but never received their promised reimbursements. The full amount must be credited to affected customers’ bills in equal monthly installments over the next 12 months, starting March 1, 2026.
If you paid for a meter yourself under MAP and haven’t been fully refunded through bill credits, you are now legally entitled to accelerated repayment—monitor your account closely from March onwards and report any delays.
