The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has directed all electricity distribution companies (Discos) to publicly disclose refunds made to customers who purchased meters under the Meter Asset Providers (MAP) scheme.
This directive was announced on Monday via NERC’s social media platforms following its first Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) Stakeholders Meeting for 2025.
The move aims to ensure transparency and accountability in the electricity sector, addressing concerns raised by consumers about delayed reimbursements.
Under the MAP framework, third-party investors supply and maintain electricity meters, while consumers pay metering service fees.
According to NERC regulations, customers who make advance payments for meters must be reimbursed through energy credits by their respective Discos.
However, concerns have been raised about the failure of some Discos to fulfill this obligation.
To enhance transparency, NERC has mandated that all details regarding these refunds be made accessible on the Discos’ websites.
“NERC has directed Discos to publish details of MAP refunds on their websites for transparency. This will demonstrate commitment and consistency to the scheme and encourage customers,” the commission stated.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to bridging the metering gap, which currently affects over seven million electricity consumers in Nigeria.
Special Adviser on Energy to President Bola Tinubu, Olu Verheijen, highlighted the importance of metering all registered electricity users to improve efficiency and reduce revenue losses.
“The government is intervening in the short term by making sure that the registered customers within the Disco have meters because no matter what your tariff is, you need to make sure that you can collect and reduce your collection losses. And so, that’s one of the interventions,” Verheijen explained.
Furthermore, she referenced the Presidential Metering Initiative, which consolidates various metering efforts funded by different entities.
The initiative is expected to improve revenue collection, ensuring Discos have the financial capacity to invest in a more reliable electricity supply.
As part of ongoing power sector reforms, NERC hosted its first NESI Stakeholders Meeting for 2025, where key industry concerns were discussed.
Topics covered included tariff methodologies, NESI liquidity, and the transition towards a multi-tier electricity market regulated at the state level.
The commission emphasized that its quarterly stakeholders’ meetings serve as a platform for evaluating Nigeria’s electricity sector and addressing critical challenges.
