The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has mandated all electricity distribution companies (Discos) to publicly disclose refunds made to customers who purchased meters under the Meter Asset Providers (MAP) scheme.
NERC announced the directive via its official social media platforms on Monday, emphasizing the need for transparency and consumer confidence in the metering program.
The MAP framework enables third-party investors to provide and maintain meters for end-users, with customers making payments for metering services. According to NERC regulations, customers who opt for upfront payments are entitled to refunds through energy credits, as approved by the commission.
However, consumer advocacy groups have raised concerns over Discos’ inconsistency in issuing refunds, prompting the regulatory body to enforce this transparency measure.
“NERC has directed Discos to publish details of MAP refunds on their websites. This ensures transparency, builds trust in the scheme, and encourages more customers to participate,” the commission stated.
With over seven million unmetered customers, the Federal Government is ramping up efforts to bridge the metering deficit. The Presidential Metering Initiative seeks to consolidate various metering programs to improve electricity billing accuracy and revenue collection.
According to Olu Verheijen, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Energy, metering all customers is a critical short-term intervention to enhance revenue collection and reduce losses in the power sector.
“Ensuring that every registered electricity consumer has a meter is key to improving cash flow for Discos, driving investment in reliability, and expanding green energy access,” Verheijen stated.
Meanwhile, NERC held its first Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) Stakeholders Meeting of 2025 at its headquarters, where key issues affecting the power sector were discussed.
The meeting covered topics such as:
- Tariff methodology and state transition impact
- NESI liquidity and financial evaluation
- Transition to a multi-tier electricity market with state regulatory commissions
“The quarterly NESI Stakeholders Meeting brings together industry players to assess the state of the power sector and tackle pressing challenges,” NERC added. This latest directive on MAP refunds marks a significant step in enhancing accountability within Nigeria’s electricity supply industry
