The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has directed all electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to refund ₦20.33bn to customers who paid for meters under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme.
The directive, contained in Order No: NERC/2026/025, mandates that the outstanding amount be fully repaid within 12 months starting March 1, 2026.
The order was signed on February 27, 2026, by NERC Chairman, Musiliu Oseni, and Commissioner for Legal, Licensing & Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye.
Why This Matters
Under the MAP framework, customers pay upfront for electricity meters and are reimbursed through energy credits over time.
However, NERC’s February 2026 compliance review revealed that as of December 31, 2025, DisCos had failed to refund ₦20.33bn owed to customers.
The regulator said the new order aims to:
*Eliminate delays in reimbursements
*Automate credit processesStrengthen consumer confidence in the power sector.
What Changes Now
NERC has introduced stricter automation and transparency rules:
1. Full Automation of RefundsDisCos must automatically recognize the total cost of a MAP meter as credit on a customer’s account upon activation and disburse it monthly over a 120-month amortisation period.
2. No Offset Against DebtsMeter reimbursement credits must not be deducted to settle old customer debts.
They must be treated separately.
3. Prepaid CustomersMonthly reimbursement tokens must be generated no later than the 4th day of each month.
To clear the backlog, affected customers will receive two tokens monthly during the 12-month recovery period.
4. Postpaid CustomersReimbursements must appear as a distinct credit line item on monthly bills.
During the arrears recovery phase, customers will see two credit entries monthly.
Compliance and Monitoring
NERC has also mandated:
Monthly compliance reports from all DisCos detailing reimbursements made.
Creation of dedicated complaint email channels for customers yet to receive refunds.
Inclusion of complaint status updates in regulatory submissions.
The commission emphasized that the accelerated 12-month recovery plan is designed to clear the ₦20.33bn backlog and restore credibility to the MAP reimbursement process.