The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has mandated all electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to disclose details of refunds made to customers who purchased meters under the Meter Asset Providers (MAP) scheme.
The directive, announced via the commission’s social media handles on Monday, aims to ensure transparency and encourage public participation in the metering scheme.
It comes amid growing concerns from consumer groups about the inconsistency of refunds by DisCos. The MAP framework allows third-party investors to provide and maintain end-use meters, with customers paying metering service charges. Under NERC regulations, customers who pay upfront for meters are to be reimbursed through energy credits by DisCos, based on an approved schedule.
However, several consumers have expressed dissatisfaction with the process, prompting the regulator to insist on public disclosure of the refund details on DisCo websites. With over seven million unmetered customers across the country, the Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to bridging the metering gap.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Energy, Olu Verheijen, recently emphasized the administration’s plan to ensure that all electricity customers are metered. According to her, proper metering is essential to reducing revenue losses and improving the financial viability of the power sector.
Verheijen further highlighted the government’s short-term intervention strategy, which includes the Presidential Metering Initiative aimed at consolidating all existing metering programs. She stressed that having an accurate record of electricity consumption and payment capacity would help DisCos enhance revenue collection, ultimately boosting investments in power reliability and access.
Meanwhile, NERC convened its first Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) Stakeholders meeting of 2025 to review key developments in the power sector. Discussions focused on the tariff methodology, market liquidity, financial evaluations, and transitioning to a multi-tier electricity market.
The meeting also examined the role of state electricity regulatory commissions in the evolving power sector landscape.