₦airaland Forum

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has delivered a judgment in favour of consumers, ordering electricity distribution companies to refund a total of ₦20.33bn in outstanding meter costs.

The judgment contained in Order No: NERC/2026/025, which amends the previous 2023 order, was signed by the NERC Chairman, Musiliu Oseni, and the Commissioner, Legal, Licensing & Compliance at NERC, Dafe Akpeneye, on February 27, 2026.

According to the new order, DisCos are to recover and fully disburse the fund to affected customers over 12 months from March 1, 2026.

Under the Meter Asset Provider framework (MAP) scheme, customers pay for meters and are refunded by their DisCos through energy credits.

However, the commission noted that the level of refunds had been very slow over the years, necessitating a new order.

NERC stated that, as of December 31, 2025, DisCos had failed to reimburse customers for meters procured under the MAP framework, leaving an outstanding ₦20.33bn.

A combo of the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), Sunday Oduntan, and electricity installations.


The order is intended to prevent repeated delays in reimbursements, optimise customer notification, and strengthen sector credibility and confidence.

“In February 2026, the commission reviewed the level of compliance of DisCos with the expected reimbursement to customers who have paid for meters under the MAP framework.

According to the new order, DisCos have an outstanding amount of ₦20.33bn to reimburse customers for meters procured under the MAP framework as at 31 December 2025.

The electricity market regulator stated that all reimbursements to customers for meters procured under the MAP framework would be fully automated on customer accounts, saying, “DisCos shall ensure that the total cost of a MAP meter is recognised as credit on the customer’s account upon activation of the meter and disbursed automatically as monthly credits over the approved amortisation period.”

DisCos were also instructed that meter reimbursement credits cannot be offset against customer legacy debt.

“DisCos shall not offset meter reimbursement credits against customer legacy debts; the items must be treated separately,” the order stated.

For prepaid customers, DisCos must automatically generate monthly tokens representing the reimbursement, while for postpaid customers, the reimbursement must appear as a distinct credit on their bills.

NERC said, “For customers with prepaid meters, no later than the 4th day of every month, the DisCo’s billing system will automatically generate a token with an energy value equivalent to the monthly reimbursement which the customer is due to receive over the 120-month amortisation period based on the prevailing tariff for the customer.

“For post-paid customers, the monthly reimbursement of the cost of a MAP meter shall appear as a distinct credit line item which is expected to be subtracted from the customer’s total payable for the month.”

NERC also mandated monthly reporting and a dedicated complaints channel for affected customers.

“All DisCos shall file monthly reports with the Commission detailing the total monetary value of the reimbursement to customers through energy credit, in accordance with the template approved by the Commission.

“All DisCos shall establish a dedicated email address for the receipt of complaints from customers who have not received MAP meter cost reimbursements. Details of such complaints, including the status of their resolution, shall form part of the monthly compliance reports submitted to the commission,” it said.

Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu.

To recover the N20.33bn arrears, DisCos are to accelerate repayment over 12 months. The order noted that prepaid customers will receive two tokens per month, while postpaid customers will see two reimbursement line items on their bills.

“To recover the sum of N20.33bn that was not reimbursed to customers as at 31 December 2025, DisCos shall accelerate the rate of recovery for the affected customers over a 12-month period commencing from 1 March 2026,” the order added.

Source: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/03/04/electricity-customers-to-get-%e2%82%a620bn-meter-cost-refunds-from-discos-nerc

So like this now, Eko Electricity is owing me me #50k ( processing fee) #221k ( meter fee) #20k installation fee and #20k programming fees totalling about 300k.

Macphenson:
So like this now, Eko Electricity is owing me me #50k ( processing fee) #221k ( meter fee) #20k installation fee and #20k programming fees totalling about 300k.

That money is goneee with the wind.

Only thing they can do is approve the next batch and give us free.

Especially we that need extra metter for our tenants. Cus right now I just had to get the one that reads units used but I want each tenant to have their meter

No electricity in Nigeria!

Everywhere is complete total darkness

Nigeria is really funny.
Who is doing the refund, to whom?

Electricity supply now is the worst I have ever seen since I was birthed . How are small scale business coping?

NERC will say something DISCO's will do something different and NERC will be acting deaf and dumb to your petition.

Some things other countries have solved long ago we are still battling in Nigeria.

Macphenson:
So like this now, Eko Electricity is owing me me #50k ( processing fee) #221k ( meter fee) #20k installation fee and #20k programming fees totalling about 300k.

I can assure you that if you wait for the reimbursement you go wait tire.

Very very good one. I love this !

At a time nations are so technically advanced that they are sending guided missiles everywhere and building UAVs we are still talking about adequate power supply in this country something that has remained a total mirage for successive governments.
Today, power supply is so poor that the power itself is seen as a disturbance if at whatever point it is restored after hour and hours and days and days of uninterrupted darkness.
Instead of investing in power generation like South Africa did and stopped their load shedding, problem our government decided to embark on white elephant projects like that coastal road which is surely not what's needed at a time like this.

The bottleneck to get the money no go be here oooh

A good one from the government

That will be so wonderful if we can get such refunds 😊

Macphenson:
So like this now, Eko Electricity is owing me me #50k ( processing fee) #221k ( meter fee) #20k installation fee and #20k programming fees totalling about 300k.

How to get my own refund?? Z

Malagans:
Nigeria is really funny.
Who is doing the refund, to whom?

Electricity supply now is the worst I have ever seen since I was birthed . How are small scale business coping?

..abi..for 66 years Nigeria cannot solve electricity problems till now..still lacking electricity for 66 years since independence in 1960.. and they will say Nigeria is giant of Africa..it's a pity

Naija is a stupid country and nothing works. Shey na tru credit we take buy the meter. Refund back the money to customers accounts a customer has a biodata,email and phone number. They can be reqch through those means and money refunded to the account immediately. Such a cursed country. Till jesus comes,nigeria remains cursed and tinubu will die a shameful death

Macphenson:
So like this now, Eko Electricity is owing me me #50k ( processing fee) #221k ( meter fee) #20k installation fee and #20k programming fees totalling about 300k.

The only one they are owing you is the 221k. Not as if they will pay you directly to your account. They will just be giving additional token until the money finishes

AEDC is owning me 77,000 can I drop my account number here?

Queue go full these people office to claim refund oooo.

You're talking of successive govt. The Baba on the seat now vowed that if the electricity issue is not settled within 2yrs of his tenure, he should be voted out in next election. Maybe that's why he is busy turning the entire country to a one party system.

quoteauthor=themanderpost=138661636]At a time nations are so technically advanced that they are sending guided missiles everywhere and building UAVs we are still talking about adequate power supply in this country something that has remained a total mirage for successive governments.
Today, power supply is so poor that the power itself is seen as a disturbance if at whatever point it is restored after hour and hours and days and days of uninterrupted darkness.
Instead of investing in power generation like South Africa did and stopped their load shedding, problem our government decided to embark on white elephant projects like that coastal road which is surely not what's needed at a time like this.[/quote]

adenigga:
Source: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/03/04/electricity-customers-to-get-%e2%82%a620bn-meter-cost-refunds-from-discos-nerc

Do we have NERC official here to listen to the electricity customer ordeal.
Maybe Mr Seun can be engaging any concerned agency to this forum

How can one get the prepaid meter

they are not considering the fact that not everyone that paid for the meter is the end user, some bought for their tenants and that will create problem between the tenant and the landlord

Electricity customers will get a hefty sum back, probably for a minor issue. It’s all about the paperwork, isn't it?

mycar:
they are not considering the fact that not everyone that paid for the meter is the end user, some bought for their tenants and that will create problem between the tenant and the landlord

Always take little time to read whatever article or news that needs to be read.

The mode of reimbursement was clearly stated in the article. Ire ooo

toffyz:
Always take little time to read whatever article or news that needs to be read.

The mode of reimbursement was clearly stated in the article. Ire ooo

what's the mode if not by assigning recharge tokens to the meters and if I may ask you, who else will benefit from the recharge token if not the person that is using the meter.
who paid for the meter? Landlord
What's the mode of reimbursement, by recharge token.
who will benefit? the person that is using the meter.
Kindly give your own opinion since you are not a daft or, are you?

To even get a prepaid meter these days is hell talkless of refunding customers some imaginary money.

Good news. Got only 100 units when we got the meter installed.

Future impossible tense

Macphenson:
So like this now, Eko Electricity is owing me me #50k ( processing fee) #221k ( meter fee) #20k installation fee and #20k programming fees totalling about 300k.

This is serious thiefing by EE because in Abuja here you only pay for meter. The person coming to install it highest you pay him is 5k or max 10k

We have not seen any free prepaid meter here in Kogi State