By Akinnodi Francis, Ondo

The Nigerian government’s recent directive mandating electricity distribution companies (Discos) to disclose details of meter refunds has sparked excitement among electricity consumers nationwide.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) announced the directive on Monday, February 24, 2025, as part of its commitment to transparency and fairness in the power sector.

For many consumers who have long battled issues surrounding meter payments and refunds, this move represents a significant victory.

For years, electricity consumers in Nigeria have raised concerns over the lack of transparency surrounding the Meter Asset Providers (MAP) programme, which requires customers to pay for meters upfront with the promise of reimbursement through energy credits.

However, many customers lament that refunds have been slow, inconsistent, or completely non-existent.

A businessman, Gbenga Fawehinmi expressed his excitement about the new directive: “I bought my meter under the MAP scheme two years ago, and up till now, I have not received any refund. Each time I ask my Disco, they give one excuse or another. With NERC’s new directive, I believe we will finally see some transparency. It’s a step in the right direction.”

Similarly, a civil servant,Mrs Caroline Adesolape praised the government’s intervention, stating that the lack of transparency had discouraged many consumers from trusting the metering system.

“I know people who refused to purchase meters under MAP because they didn’t believe the refund would ever happen. Now that the government is enforcing disclosure, more consumers might be encouraged to get metered.”

NERC’s directive requires all Discos to publicly disclose details of refunds on their official websites. This, according to consumer advocacy groups, will ensure greater accountability.

A representative of the Electricity Consumer Rights Initiative (ECRI),Ahmed Sule emphasised the importance of this move:

“For too long, the power sector has been shrouded in secrecy. Customers have had to accept whatever Discos tell them without any means of verifying whether they are being treated fairly. This directive is a game changer because it forces Discos to be more accountable.”

He further stressed that continuous monitoring and enforcement by NERC would be necessary to ensure compliance.

“We hope that this directive is not just a policy on paper. The government must follow up to ensure that Discos actually publish refund details and process reimbursements as required by law.”

Despite various initiatives, Nigeria still struggles with a significant metering gap. Over seven million electricity consumers remain unmetered, leading to widespread complaints about estimated billing, which many consider exploitative.

According to industry experts, metering is a crucial step toward stabilising the electricity sector.

An energy economist,Professor, Charles Ede, highlighted how metering can improve revenue collection and service delivery.

“When consumers have meters, Discos can accurately track electricity consumption, reducing disputes over estimated bills. This, in turn, improves revenue collection and enhances the ability of Discos to invest in better infrastructure,” he explained.