Prospects to get N20bn meter refunds from DisCos – NERC

The Nigerian Electrical energy Regulatory Fee has ordered all electrical energy distribution firms to pay N20.33bn in excellent meter reimbursements to clients below the Meter Asset Supplier framework.

The fee directed that the entire quantity have to be recovered and absolutely disbursed to affected clients over 12 months commencing on March 1, 2026.

Below the MAP scheme, clients pay for meters and are refunded by their DisCos via vitality credit. Nevertheless, the fee famous that the extent of refunds had been very gradual through the years, necessitating a brand new order.

Order No: NERC/2026/025, which amends the earlier 2023 order on the reimbursement of meter prices, was signed by the NERC Chairman, Musiliu Oseni, and the Commissioner, Authorized, Licensing & Compliance at NERC, Dafe Akpeneye, on February 27, 2026.

NERC acknowledged that, as of December 31, 2025, DisCos had didn’t reimburse clients for meters procured below the MAP framework, leaving an impressive N20.33bn.

“In February 2026, the fee reviewed the extent of compliance of DisCos with the anticipated reimbursement to clients who’ve paid for meters below the MAP framework.

The overview highlighted that DisCos have an impressive quantity of N20.33bn to reimburse clients for meters procured below the MAP framework as at 31 December 2025,” the order acknowledged.

The fee defined that the order is meant to forestall repeated delays in reimbursements, optimise buyer notification, and strengthen sector credibility and confidence.

Within the new order, the fee acknowledged that each one reimbursements to clients for meters procured below the MAP framework shall be absolutely automated on buyer accounts, saying, “DisCos shall be certain that the entire price of a MAP meter is recognised as credit score on the shopper’s account upon activation of the meter and disbursed mechanically as month-to-month credit over the authorised amortisation interval.”

DisCos have been additionally instructed that meter reimbursement credit can’t be offset towards buyer legacy debt. “DisCos shall not offset meter reimbursement credit towards buyer legacy money owed; the objects have to be handled individually,” the order acknowledged.

For pay as you go clients, DisCos should mechanically generate month-to-month tokens representing the reimbursement, whereas for postpaid clients, the reimbursement should seem as a definite credit score on their payments.

NERC stated, “For patrons with pay as you go meters, no later than the 4th day of each month, the DisCo’s billing system will mechanically generate a token with an vitality worth equal to the month-to-month reimbursement which the shopper is because of obtain over the 120-month amortisation interval based mostly on the prevailing tariff for the shopper.

“For post-paid clients, the month-to-month reimbursement of the price of a MAP meter shall seem as a definite credit score line merchandise which is anticipated to be subtracted from the shopper’s whole payable for the month.”

To get better the N20.33bn arrears, DisCos are to speed up reimbursement over 12 months. The order famous that pay as you go clients will obtain two tokens monthly, whereas postpaid clients will see two reimbursement line objects on their payments.

“To get better the sum of N20.33bn that was not reimbursed to clients as at 31 December 2025, DisCos shall speed up the speed of restoration for the affected clients over a 12-month interval commencing from 1 March 2026,” the order stated.

NERC additionally mandated month-to-month reporting and a devoted complaints channel for affected clients.

“All DisCos shall file month-to-month reviews with the Fee detailing the entire financial worth of the reimbursement to clients via vitality credit score, in accordance with the template authorised by the Fee.

“All DisCos shall set up a devoted electronic mail deal with for the receipt of complaints from clients who haven’t acquired MAP meter price reimbursements. Particulars of such complaints, together with the standing of their decision, shall kind a part of the month-to-month compliance reviews submitted to the fee,” it added.