25th February 2025
The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has ordered electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to publicly disclose refunds made to customers who purchased meters under the Meter Asset Providers (MAP) scheme.
NERC announced this directive on Monday via its social media platforms, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in the refund process.
Under the MAP framework, third-party investors provide and maintain meters for customers, who then pay metering service charges. If a customer pays upfront for a meter, NERC regulations require DisCos to refund the cost through energy credits. However, consumer groups have raised concerns that refunds have not been consistent.
To address this, NERC has now mandated DisCos to publish refund details on their websites, ensuring transparency and encouraging more customers to participate in the scheme.
With over seven million unmetered customers, the government is working to close the metering gap. Presidential Adviser on Energy, Olu Verheijen, recently stated that the administration aims to provide meters for all electricity users to reduce losses and improve revenue collection.
The directive was discussed during the 2025 Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) Stakeholders Meeting, where issues like electricity tariffs, market liquidity, and transitioning to a multi-tier electricity market were also addressed.
