'Exposed!' FG Orders Discos to Publish Meter Refunds for Transparency

OwelekeTV News — The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has instructed all electricity distribution companies (Discos) to expose details of refunds issued to customers who acquired meters through the Meter Asset Providers (Chart) scheme.

The directive, which was announced on Monday via NERC’s social media platforms, aims to enhance transparency and insure customers admit their due remitments.

The order was part of conversations at the first Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry( NESI) Stakeholders’ Meeting for 2025, held at NERC’s headquarters.

Industry leaders gathered to deliberate on issues affecting Nigeria’s electricity request, including metering challenges and fiscal interests.

The Chart scheme was introduced to allow private investors to supply and maintain meters for electricity consumers.

Under this framework, customers who conclude for an outspoken payment for their meters are entitled to a refund through energy credits handed by their separate Discos.

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According to NERC regulations, this payment must follow a schedule approved by the commission, grounded on an assessment of the fiscal stability of the electricity distribution companies.

Concerns have been raised by consumer advocacy groups, who argue that Discos haven’t been harmonious in issuing refunds.

Numerous customers have complained about delays or a complete lack of payment, despite fulfilling all necessary conditions.

To address this issue and restore confidence in the metering process, NERC has now commanded that Discos publish detailed records of the refunds they’ve reused.

“NERC has directed Discos to publish details of Chart refunds on their websites for transparency. This will demonstrate commitment and consistency to the scheme and encourage customers,”

the commission stated.

Nigeria presently faces a significant metering deficit, with over seven million electricity consumers yet to be metered.

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing this issue, admitting that the absence of meters contributes to billing controversies and profit losses in the power sector.

lately, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Energy, Olu Verheijen, stated that the government is taking steps to insure that all registered electricity consumers admit meters.

This action, she noted, is essential for perfecting profit collection and icing fair billing.

“The government is intermediating in the short term by making sure that the listed customers within the Disco have meters because no matter what your tariff is, you need to make sure that you can collect and reduce your collection losses,”

Verheijen explained.

She also stressed the Presidential Metering Initiative, which seeks to consolidate colorful metering programs funded by different entities.

The objective is to produce a unified approach to metering, allowing electricity providers to track consumption directly and ameliorate profit collection.

Aside from the metering challenge, the NESI Stakeholders’ Meeting also covered tariff adjustments, market liquidity, fiscal assessments, and the transition to amulti-tier electricity request.

These conversations were particularly applicable in light of Nigeria’s evolving electricity nonsupervisory framework, which now involves both civil and state- level nonsupervisory bodies.

Following the meeting, NERC emphasized the significance of these daily engagements, stating,

“The daily meeting brings together energy stakeholders to bandy the state of the NESI and address critical issues in the sector.”

With the government and nonsupervisory authorities tensing oversight and administering compliance, the electricity sector is anticipated to witness significant reforms.

Still, the success of these enterprise will largely depend on the amenability of Discos to cleave to regulations, maintain translucency, and prioritize consumer trust.