Customers to Get ₦20bn Meter Refunds from DisCos – NERC

Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has ordered all electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to reimburse customers a total of ₦20.33 billion in outstanding meter refunds under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) framework. The directive, part of Order No: NERC/2026/025, was signed on February 27, 2026, and comes after years of slow customer reimbursements.

Under the MAP scheme, electricity users who paid upfront for meters are entitled to refunds through monthly energy credits issued by DisCos. However, as of December 31, 2025, NERC found that DisCos had failed to fulfil this obligation, leaving ₦20.33 billion unpaid to consumers across the country.

The commission has mandated that reimbursements be fully automated on customer accounts over a 12‑month period beginning March 1, 2026, ending repeated delays and improving transparency and confidence in the power sector. For prepaid customers, DisCos must issue two tokens per month representing the reimbursement amount, while postpaid customers will see two credit line items on their monthly bills.

DisCos are prohibited from offsetting meter refunds against legacy debts, and must report monthly on reimbursements while providing dedicated channels for customer complaints. The move is part of broader regulatory efforts to strengthen billing accuracy and consumer protection in Nigeria’s electricity supply industry.