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NERC orders DisCos to refund ₦20.33bn to customers for prepaid meters bought under the MAP scheme within 12 months.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has finally stepped in to protect consumers. In a new directive, the regulator has ordered all electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to refund a total of ₦20.33 billion to customers who paid for their own meters.

This massive refund is for people who purchased meters under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) framework but are yet to get their money back. 

According to a document titled “Amended Order on the Reimbursement of Meter Costs,” DisCos have exactly 12 months to settle this debt, starting from March 1, 2026.

How the Refund Will Work

If you are one of the affected customers, do not expect a cash transfer or a bank alert. Instead, the refund will come as energy credits.

The DisCos are required to credit your account in equal installments every month. This means when you go to buy electricity, a portion of what you paid for the meter will be added to your units until the full amount is covered.

Why the Regulator Is Taking Action

NERC’s decision comes after a deep dive into the books. The commission discovered that as of December 31, 2025, DisCos were still sitting on over ₦20 billion that belonged to customers.

Beyond the numbers, the regulator noted a "mountain of complaints" from Nigerians. Many people reported that despite paying for their meters to escape estimated billing, the promised refunds were either delayed or never arrived. This new order is meant to fix that and restore trust in the power sector.

New Rules for DisCos

To ensure that these companies don’t drag their feet, NERC has laid down some strict rules:

• Automation: The refund process must be automatic on customer accounts.
• Monthly Updates: DisCos must send reports to NERC every month to show their progress.
• Help Desks: Every DisCo must set up a dedicated channel just to handle meter refund complaints.

This move is part of a wider effort by the government to bridge the metering gap in Nigeria. Just last week, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, told IBEDC to speed up the rollout of 59,000 free meters.

Furthermore, the Federal Government recently released ₦28 billion under the Meter Acquisition Fund to help DisCos buy more prepaid meters for Nigerians. For now, the focus is clear: if you paid for your meter, you deserve your money back.